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DEEKSHITHARS, THE TILLAI 3000
In ancient times the Deekshithars,
the community of hereditary priests were known as
Muvariyavar, or the 3000 of Tillai. The Chidambaram
Mahatmyam recounts of their arrival in Tillai just as Lord
Nataraja started his dance there. Thus they were the chosen
guardians of the Lord’s worship and of the temple from its
very conception.
Their relation to Lord Nataraja is
a very intimate and powerful one, which is expressed by the
legend that once the 3000 were requested by Brahma to
perform a Vedic sacrifice in heaven. At their return they
counted to make sure all had returned safely. But however
they counted, they found only 2999. All were very upset,
until a voice from the Sabha called out and announced that
He Himself, Lord Nataraja, was the 3000th Deekshithar.
Although considered as among the
Shiva Brahmans or Ayars, they form a completely separate
group. Not only is their
philosophy and temple doctrine different from other social
groups and other temples, but also their way of life is very
different from the society around them.
A Deekshithar has to wear his hair
long, with a tonsure all around the rim. The hair is pulled
to the left side and tied into a bun. This reflects their
awareness of cosmology. It also expresses some aspects of
the temple philosophy which as based on advaita,
non-dualistic concepts. They follow the teaching of Baudhayana Maharishi. Male and female energies are
inseparable and both essential for the process of cosmos.
The Deekshithars acknowledge their female side by wearing
their hair long and in a bun, on the left side of the body,
which is considered the female
side.
The Chidambaram temple is unique in
countless ways, but one outstanding feature is without doubt
the way in which its priestly community is organized. It is
possible the oldest and longest functioning democracy in the
world. The community is called Podu Deekshithars, which means
‘the gathering of Deekshithars’. Every Deekshithar has one
vote in the general assembly, which takes place every twenty
days. The daily management is in the hand of a team of nine
members, one of which will be selected to be the Secretary
of the temple for one year. The duties of the Secretary of
the temple are to preside over all the activities in
connection with the daily management, as well as to
represent the temple towards the outside world. All ritual
duties in the temple are performed through a strict rotation
system. Special honorary functions, like presiding over the
great Chariot Festivals, or other special ritual functions
are accredited by drawing a name from the list of
community’s members.
Deekshithars have always been known
for their scholarship, and although the fast changes of the
present era put a lot of strains on the ability of the
community to maintain its tradition, many are facing this
challenge by combining the pursuit of an academic career
with serving their Lord in the temple routine.
Although the Deekshithars are known
as the 3000 of Tillai, now the community counts about a
thousand members, men, women and children, of which more
then three hundred are initiated priests.
There was a time when the
Deekshithars did not need to depend on the devotees for
their income, but nowadays they form priest-client
relationships.
Thus the Deekshithars and the
millions of visitors experience
His Cosmic Dance since time immemorial:
Kripa
samudram sumukham trinetram
jatadharam Parvati vama bhagam
Sada
Sivam Rudram anandarupam
Cidambaresam hridi bhavayami
O Lord, you are the ocean of mercy,
Your
shining face adorned with three eyes,
With
matted hair, Goddess Parvati permanently with you on your
left,
You are
the eternal and cosmic form of bliss,
Presiding Lord of Chidambaram, Dancing the Ananda Tandava,
You are
dwelling in the heart of the devotees
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