Dikshitar
Encyclopedia
Dīkshitars or Thillai Vazh Anthaanar are a sub-sect of the Iyer
community of Tamil Nadu
who are based mainly in the town of Chidambaram
and according to legend, have descended from three thousands individuals who migrated from Varanasi
. They wear their kudumi . The surname "Dikshitar" is also prevalent among other Iyers with ritual qualifications
s of Chola and Pallava
emperors. The story of Kootruva Nayanar mentions this. Only a married man can be a Dikshidhar. Every married man has a share in the temple income and a role in its administration. Due to this reason there is a practice of early marriage among the Dikshdhars. Many a time a head of the family dies leaving a young son and the family has no other means to sustain itself except the temple. In these circumstances there is a natural pressure on the son, however young he may be, to get married and enlist himself into temple duties.
Nowadays the office of Deekshidhars is severely reduced to only around 100 members. There is a tradition among the Brahmins that during a civil war in 1312 CE, a majority of serving priests of the temple who were being pressured by aliens to make compromise on their service rules and processes are known to have given up their lives jumping down from tall pagodas. A few of them are known to have escaped to Alappuzha
in Kerala
where some of them were absorbed into other communities and the remainder returned after peace came to Chidambaram
. For 80 years in that turbulent century almost all important centres like Srirangam
and Chidambaram were abandoned. Several items including a priceless pearl necklace which the legends say was a gift to the deity by Lord Indra
n, the king of the gods, are said to have been lost.
Iyer
Iyer is the title given to the caste of Hindu Brahmin communities of Tamil origin. Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara...
community of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
who are based mainly in the town of Chidambaram
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
and according to legend, have descended from three thousands individuals who migrated from Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. They wear their kudumi . The surname "Dikshitar" is also prevalent among other Iyers with ritual qualifications
History
Dikshitars were believed to be among the ones who officiated at the coronation ceremonies and yagnaYajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
s of Chola and Pallava
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
emperors. The story of Kootruva Nayanar mentions this. Only a married man can be a Dikshidhar. Every married man has a share in the temple income and a role in its administration. Due to this reason there is a practice of early marriage among the Dikshdhars. Many a time a head of the family dies leaving a young son and the family has no other means to sustain itself except the temple. In these circumstances there is a natural pressure on the son, however young he may be, to get married and enlist himself into temple duties.
Nowadays the office of Deekshidhars is severely reduced to only around 100 members. There is a tradition among the Brahmins that during a civil war in 1312 CE, a majority of serving priests of the temple who were being pressured by aliens to make compromise on their service rules and processes are known to have given up their lives jumping down from tall pagodas. A few of them are known to have escaped to Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
where some of them were absorbed into other communities and the remainder returned after peace came to Chidambaram
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
. For 80 years in that turbulent century almost all important centres like Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
and Chidambaram were abandoned. Several items including a priceless pearl necklace which the legends say was a gift to the deity by Lord Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
n, the king of the gods, are said to have been lost.