not drink liquor, to prohibit the re-marriage of widows, to prohibit child-marriage, to wear the sacred thread, and perform Brahmanical rites. This was done as the previous religious customs of the Padmasalis were seen as being indicative of their low status in the Hindu caste system, and so sought to erase them in order to obtain greater socio-religious status. Present The Padmasalis are further divided into two groups based on Sampradaya, being the Shaivas and the Vaishnavas. While the Shaivas give preference to worshipping Shiva, the Vaishnavas give preference to worship of Vishnu. These religious and occupational distinctions are no bar to interdining and intermarriage. They worship local goddesses such as Chamundeswari and Yellamma. The latter is traditionally considered to be the mother of Parasurama and is identified with Renuka. The Padmasalis wear the sacred thread., however this practice has declined in recent years, along with desires of Sanskritisation and high caste status. Notable people Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti Butta Renuka See also Puttapaka Saree Kaikala Pattusali Telugu castes References External links Padmasali (Markandeya) Sangam, Padmashali Directory is available here, Hyderabad Padmashali International Welfare Association, Vijayawada Indian castes Social groups of Telangana Social groups of Andhra Pradesh Telugu society Weaving communities of South Asia