 The Padmashalis profess themselves to be "Senapati" means a leader, They wear the sacred thread like members of the Pancha Brahma castes.The term "Padmashali" is derived from two words "Padma" and "Shali", The Padma means lotus and Shali means weaver.The word Padma referring to the myth of the thread was a lotus which sprang from the navel of Vishnu.