The Tamil Kammalans are divided into three endogamous territorial groups, Pandya, Sozia (or Chola), and Kongan. The Pandyas live principally in the Madura and Tinnevelly districts, and the Sozias in the Trichinopoly, Tanjore, Chingleput, North and South Arcot districts, and Madras. The Kongas are found chiefly in the Salem and Coimbatore districts. In some places, there are still further sub-divisions of territorial origin. Thus, the Pandya Tattans are divided into Karakattar, Vambanattar, Pennaikku-akkarayar (those on the other side of the Pennaiyar river), Munnuru-vittukarar (those of the three hundred families), and so forth. They are further divided into exogamous septs, the names of which are derived from places, e.g., Perugumani, Musiri, Oryanadu, Thiruchendurai, and Kalagunadu.
The Kammalans are made up of five occupational sections, viz., Tattan (goldsmith), Kannan (brass-smith), Tac'chan (carpenter), Kal-Tac'chan (stone-mason), and Kollan or Karuman (blacksmith). The name Panchala, which is sometimes used by the Tamil as well as the Canarese artisan classes, has reference to the fivefold occupations. The various sections intermarry, but the goldsmiths have, especially in towns, ceased to intermarry with the blacksmiths. The Kammalans, claiming, as will be seen later on, to be Brahmans, have adopted Brahmanical gotras, and the five sections have five gotras called Visvagu, Janagha, Ahima, Janardana, and Ubhendra, after certain Rishis (sages). Each of these gotras, it is said, has twenty-five subordinate gotras attached to it. The names of these, however, are not forthcoming, and indeed, except some individuals who act as priests for the Kammalans, few seem to have any knowledge of them. In their marriages the Kammalans closely imitate the Brahmanical ceremonial, and the ceremonies last for three or five days according to the means of the parties. The parisam, or bride's money, is paid, as among other non-Brahmanical castes. Widows are allowed the use of ordinary jewelry and betel, which is not the case among Brahmans, and they are not compelled to make the usual fasts, or observe the feasts commonly observed by Brahmans.