to Baidya of eastern India, Kayastha of central and northern India and Khatri of northern and northwestern India. Migration Sinha suggests that the Ambashtha who migrated southward initially carried out the profession of physicians but later took up other professions such as that of barbers. The social life of Tamil Ambashtha is regulated by Brahmanical code, who act as priest in their marriage ceremonies. Like the orthodox North-Indian upper castes, traditionally widow remarriage was not there and the dead are cremated. They perform as priests in marriage ceremonies of the Vellas of Salem district. They may be Shaiva or Vaishnava. The Vaishnava abstain from meat, fish and liquor. Their population is quite large in Salem district. Similar group is also found in South Travencore who work as physicians, midwives, barbers and priests. They have respectable social status. Ambashtha held high positions during Chalukya and Pandya kingdoms. Early Tamil history The Siddhars, the ancient Tamil physicians who claimed to have attained siddhi, hailed mostly from the Ambattar community. Sri Lanka According to the folklore of the Ambattar of Sri Lanka, they arrived in the Jaffna Kingdom as attendants of warriors. Since they came without their wives, they married Sri Lankan Vellalar women. See also Velakkathala Nair Isai Vellalar References Social groups of Tamil Nadu Sri Lankan Tamil castes