Dikshitar
Dīkṣitars (Tamil: தீக்ஷிதர்) or Thillai Vazh Anthaanar are a Vedic Shaiva Brahmin servitor community of Tamil Nadu who are based mainly in the town of Chidambaram. Smartha (especially the Vadamas), Sri Vaishnava and other Brahmins in South India also carry the surname Dikshitars, but are different from the Chidambaram Dishitar.
| Dīkṣitar | |
|---|---|
| தீக்ஷிதர் | |
1909 photograph depicting the traditional Dīkṣitar munkuḍumi, alternately known as pūrvaśikhā, and in English, a forelock | |
| Classification | Pancha Dravida |
| Veda | Ṛgveda (Āśvalāyana recension) Yajurveda (Baudhāyana recension) |
| Religions | Hinduism, Vedic Shaivism |
| Languages | Sanskrit, Tamil |
| Country | India |
| Original state | Tamil Nadu |
| Related groups | Iyer Brahmin, Nambūdiri Brahmin, Śōḻiya Brahmin |
| Kingdom (original) | Chola Empire |
They are an exclusive group of Brahmins learned in the Vedas and Yagnas (sacrifices) who also serve as the hereditary trustees of the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram. They are also called Thillai Muvayiravar or the Three Thousand of Thillai Every Dikshitar once he is married becomes as of right a trustee and archaka of the Nataraja temple. A practice unique to the community is that the priests wear the tuft of hair in front of the head similar to the Nambuthiri Brahmans of Kerala.