(Panikkans), shoe-makers (Semman), barbers, washermen and what not. The Paraiyas, or the modern representatives of the ancient Eyinas, as Dr. Caldwell rightly observes, thus constituted 'a well defined, distinct ancient caste independent of every other'. The high honour of founding villages in the south during the remote period belonged to the sylvan ancestors of the despised Paraiyas. They were the mayors and aldermen of the villages they had established, and this is even now recognized by all other castes in the old custom of referring any boundary dispute to a Paraiya, Toti or a Holeya Kulavadi. And in almost all the ancient village ceremonies of a communal nature, the Paraiyas play an important part. For example, on the occasion of any festival of Siva at Tiruvalur in the Tanjore district, a Paraiyan has an hereditary right to precede the god's procession holding a white umbrella. A detailed account of the existing customs observed in various places cannot, however, conveniently be given here.
So much for their forgotten greatness. But with the advent of the Indo-Aryans about the second century A.D. there came a change in the constitution of the Paraiya tribe, their food and occupation contributing largely to their self-degradation. It has been said above that there were amongst them people following all sorts of pursuits. The social standing of those men who had been following occupations indispensible to the well-being of the Brahmans rose high in the long run and they now pass for high
