Dikshitar
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Dikshitar of Chidambaram/Thilai Muayiravar/Tillai Moovayaram
தில்லை வாழ் அந்தணர்
Iyers with surname Dikshitar are common in South India but the Dikshitar of Chidambaram are unique.
Dikshitar of Chidambaram are considered to descendants of the oldest Pancha-Dravida Brahmins(Choliyal). Their name is derived from their settlement in the Chola kingdom.
‘Tillai Moovayaram’ (the three thousand persons of Chidambaram). The common belief is that the three thousand were appointed as care-takers of the temple in Chidambaram by Lord Nataraja (Shiva) during krita yuga. Among their illustrious descendants are saints like Patanjali writer of yoga sutra, Bharata Muni compiler of The Natyashastra,and Vyaghrapada.
These people have Purva sikha which is comman among choliyal of Tamil nadu and Namboodiri of Kerala.Some ancient deekshitars were among the ones who officiated at the coronation ceremonies and yaagams of chola and pallava emperors. The story of kootruva nayanar mentions this.
There are some references ( oral and passed on through the generations of the Dikshithars ) to an event when the Dikshithars of the temple apprehended attack and plundering of the temple by Malik kafur in 1312 A.D. Several Dikshithars at that point without material resources, are said to have jumped down from the tall Pagodas and ended their lives - preferring death to see the sacred and much loved temple from being run over by Malik Kafur. Some other Dikshithars are said to have locked up the temple and carried the deities with a lot of protection to Alapuzha in Kerala. They returned after the fear of invasion receded.Malikkafur is also reported to have stolen the necklace presented to the deity by Lord Indran(king of Gods). This reference is because there are only 254 odd members(with around 100 officiating as priests) nowadays comapared to the 3000 of the past and the temple is without its huge gold reserves of past.It is said that during that tumultous period some of those who went to alappuzha had to accept to become srivaishnavas,christians and muslims. The deekshidars are also the last surviving independent priesthoods. The other known independent priesthoods of TN like tiruvanaikkovil(1000 priests(ayiravar)) and avudayarkoil(301 priests) munnoothioruvar are made to reduced in Few numbers and they had given there independency .
These priests follow an ancient system of ritual, worship and temple duty which has remained unchanged for nearly two thousand years. They consider themselves to be the slaves, the keepers, the guardians, the devotees and the worshippers of Nataraja. Apart from Nataraja they have no existence of their own.
All the temple duties are performed by them equally and in rotation including night watch. They are all equal in status and the office of the ‘high priest’ which is very common in many temples does not exist in Chidambaram. They take turns in the duties working in groups of four or six. Their duties range from conducting rituals in the sanctum sanctorum, chanting Vedas, ringing the bells, lighting the lamps, carrying the offerings, cleaning the premises to guarding the temple in the night and so on. No temple duty is below their dignity.
Temple services are in accordance with Rig and yajur vedas. Baudhayana and patanjali sutra are also followed.
Only a marriedman can be a Dikshitar. 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 Dikshtars. 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. Due to these socio-economic reasons child marriage both of men and women is prevalent in this community.
The first right on the income of the temple is of Lord Nataraja. All the requirements of the rituals as per the norms and procedures prescribed in the ancient text are to be fulfilled first. After buying ghee, honey, milk and flowers and after cooking the parsadam (the food for the Lord and his Consort) and the rest; whatever remains is shared by all married shareholders. The woman does not have a share.
There have been times in the past when the income of the temple dwindled greatly. In those times the Dikshitars have gone without food but not compromised on ritualistic expenditure for the Lord. For them the well being of the Lord is more important than their own.
Great Saints of saivite like Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, Sundarar Thirugnana Sambanthar, Appar, Sekkizhar,Manicka Vachkar and rest of Other Nayanmars Praised them a Lot And even Worshipped them as Lord Shiva's Ganas (host of ghouls)
Even vaishnavite saints like poigai alwar,kulasekharar, and tirumangai alwar have praised them/
They have been praised in Devaram,thiruvachagam,periyapuranam,tiruvisaippa.
Saint Adi Shankara gifted them with one of five Lingam which he brought from kailash.Lot of Saivitesaints like Umapathi Sivachaya are from this deekshitar group.
