Wikipedia

Desikar

Desikar (தேசிகர்) or Desigar or Pandaram is a Tamil-speaking community from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are particularly priests and land owners in the upper caste stream.

Desikar
ClassificationScholars, Landlords, Thambiran, Tamil scholars, saiva siddantha, Tamil literature
ReligionsSaiva Siddhantam, Hinduism
LanguagesTamil
RegionTamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma
Related groupsAbisheka

Origin of Desikar

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The caste Desikar or Desigar is derived from word Pandaram, meaning "sage" in Tamil. There are different theories concerning the meaning of the word Pandaram.The caste Pandaram comprises two divisions, Abhisheka and Desikar but the later name Desikar as taken as a back title.

The Desikar community is a very ancient one which promotes the Saivite religion. This community especially focuses on Saiva Siddhanta and Thirumurai.

Dhikshai process

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Those who lead a celibate life wear lingam. They became Saivas by getting Dhikshai. The stages of Dhikshai practice are:

  • "Samaya"
  • "Nirvana, Visesha"
  • "Kala sothanai"
  • "Abhishekam"

Few of them are temple servants, supply flowers for God, and sing hymns in temple. So, they used to be called Meikaval (Body god of the God) and Oduvar (reader).

Divisions in Pandarathar

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Desikar is a sub-division of community known as 'Pandarathar'.[1][better source needed] The Pandarathar caste is composed of respectable people. The name pandarathar means valuable storing place of jewels, navarathnas stored in the temples and palaces, they are placed to maintain the jewels of temples and palaces. They are Land holders, Traders, Sanyasis (monk), Priests (guru) and Managers of richly endowed temples.

These managers are commonly called Thambiran. They are all vegetarians and staunch believers of Saiva Siddantha. Abhisheka pandaram has to pass through few ceremonies related to Saiva Agama.

The mendigate pandarams, recruited from a few other classes, wear the lingam but do not abstain from eating flesh.

The Lingayat pandarathar are known as lingayats.

The latter respect their Jangam and used the sacred water, in which the feet of the Jangam are washed, for washing their stone lingam.

Some of the sub-castes of the predominant Desikar community are:

  • Desikar
  • Abhisheka
  • Oduvar
  • Meikaval

Distribution

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The community is distributed throughout Tamil Nadu and also in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore. However, they form a significant proportion of population in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Notable people

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Historical Personalities

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Freedom fighters and social leaders

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They do not mingle with other castes by marriage; but some do marry from other castes like Pillai, Saiva Vellalars

Bureaucrats

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List of Adheenam / mutts in Tamil Nadu

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Academics

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Desikar Mutts in brief

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The pioneer who established Adheenam (Mutts, Dynasty) are known as "Desikar" or "Desikar Paramacharya", pontiff in English. Most of the pontiffs are Brahamacharis maintains celibacy. Only a few became Samsaris. So only few mutts followed the successive pontiff by lineage. But most of the Adheenam select the pontiff by "Guru Shishya Parambara". Ancient Tamil history pronounces that Saivaite religion or sector doesn't have the casteism. After the invasion of the other races, casteism dominate a prominent role in the Saivaite unknowingly. so. the successive pontiffs are selected or elected from the so-called various communities. Hence few of the mutts only at the hands of Desika Paramacharya lineage.

Velakurichi Adeenam

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Tamil Nadu is pronominally a traditional State. Here are several important and noteworthy Temples apart from Math's. Hindu Religious Charitable Endowment Department Regulate and control most of these temples through its administration. A Temple is an institution of prehistoric antiquity, having continuity of existence through centuries and through many political upheavals in the land. Temple have played prominent role in the history, not only in the promotion of religion but also in the promotion of social and cultural life of the people. The Law of Karma and Re-incarnation Aim of life to realize God is the major belief of Hinduism.

It is one among the various institutions spreading the message of Hinduism for many centuries in south India. The founder of the velakurichi Mutt is SATHYAGNANA DESIKA DEERGA DHARSINIGAL. He descended from "God Siva" one Sri Kandaparamasivam. The Velakurichi mutt was founded in the 15th century on the banks of Thamirabarani River in Velakurichi village, a part of Ambasamudram Taluk, Thirunelvely District.

The peculiarity of the mutt, as distinct from the other mutts is, a "Grahastha – Sanyasi" managing the mutt, where as the Heads of the other mutts like Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, Kanchipuram Adheenam and Dharmapuram Adheenam are pure "Naistiga – Sanyasis". By custom in succession the Velakurichi Adheenam, controls and supervise the four famous temples.

The adheenam is the hereditary trustee of Five temples in Thanjavur District:

  • Agniswarar Temple, Thiruppugalur
  • Utharapatheswarar Temple, Thiruchenkattankudy
  • Meganatha Swami Temple, Thirumeeyachur
  • Thiyagaraja Swami Temple of Abhiseka Kattalai
  • Annadhana Kattalai, Thiruvarur

Thuzhavoor Adheenam

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Sri la Sri Gnanaprakasha desiga swamigal is current thuzhavoor aheenam.

Notables

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Spiritual

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  • Sri Arunagirinathar, Madurai Adeenam

Tamil literature

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Sports

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  • Senthamiz Chezhian (a) Muthukumarasamy desikar[14]

Historical personalities

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Freedom fighters and social leaders

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  • Mr. V. Selvaraj, Ex secretary of Gandhi memorials, Madurai and Sakthi kudil-Pudupatty near Aruppukottai
  • S.V.S.Rathinam
  • Thiyagi Poonga Thangavellanar freedom fighter

Education

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Music

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Arts and cinema

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Business

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  • Pritham Padmanaba desikar
  • N.Shanmugam, Singapore

Politicians

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References

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  1. ^ [1] Castes and Tribes of Southern India-Page 46 — Book by Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari on various castes and tribes of southern India
  2. ^ A. S. Pillai
  3. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030405440300.htm [bare URL]
  4. ^ "H. K. Pillai [Department of Electrical Engineering IIT Bombay]".
  5. ^ A short history of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam of Thirukkailaya Parambarai. Adheenam. 1970. OL 4080364M.
  6. ^ http://paadal-petra-sthalangal.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated [bare URL]
  7. ^ http://picasaweb.google.com/112019630256157025471/PhotoGallery?gsessionid=IRYll4oqFNHaou-QSRQugw [bare URL]
  8. ^ http://www.desipad.com/india-news/22591-head-kundrakudi-thiruvannamalai-mutt-escapes-unhurt-accident.html [bare URL]
  9. ^ http://www.chron.com/business/press-releases/article/53-Prominent-Hindu-Organizations-Pass-Resolution-3575028.php [bare URL]
  10. ^ "Murugan Bhakti – the Skanda-Kumara Site". 15 September 2023.
  11. ^ http://www.bhakthibooks.info/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=6 [bare URL]
  12. ^ http://indiankanoon.org/doc/58794155/ [bare URL]
  13. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/19/stories/2011011955030700.htm [bare URL]
  14. ^ "Achievement award presented". The Hindu. 26 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Siva Prakasar".
  16. ^ "Isanya Jnana Desikar". 22 October 2014.
  17. ^ http://vdpcollege.com/Aboutus.html [bare URL]
  18. ^ http://www.hummaa.com/music/artist/m-m-dhandapani-desikar/22139 [bare URL]
  19. ^ < [2] — The Hindu Newspaper-MM Dhandapani Desigar-True proponent of Tamil Isai
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