The occupations of the cultivating section were as given below,
உழுது பயன்கொண் டொலிநிரை யோம்பிப்
பழுதிலாப் பண்டம் பகர்ந்து-முழுதுணர
வோதி யழல் வழிப்பட்டோம் பாதவீகையா
னாதி வணிகர்க் கரசு.—P. V. M.
(1) tilling, (2) cow-breeding, (3) trade, (4) studying the Vedas, (5) worship of sacrificial fire, and (6) giving alms. Here the Vellalas are spoken of as Bhu-Vaisyas. These occupations were, however, never confined to particular castes. Tilling was and has been done by the Mallars (Pallars), Maravas and others; cow-breeding by the Idaiyas and Kurumbas ; trade in grains was formerly followed by a class of Vellalas called Kula-Vanikar or Ve!lan-Chettis and now by any caste; and giving alms by all the non-polluting castes. Vedic study and worship of sacrificial fire do not appear to have at any time been practised by the non-Brahman Tamils, except probably by an extinct section of the Vellalas known as the 'Vaidyas.' This name which occurs in a Vatteluttu inscription dated 770 A.D. should not be confounded with the Boidya caste of Bengal or with the class of native physicians called 'Vaidyan' as is sometimes done. 'Pre-eminently charming in manners, a resident of Karavandapura, thes on of Maran, and a learned and illustrious member of the Vaidya family, Madhurakavi made this stone temple of Vishnu'. The Vaidyas were minis-
