# 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.

## Origin of Desikar

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

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

Desikar is a sub-division of community known as 'Pandarathar'. 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.
Some of the sub-castes of the predominant Desikar community are:
* Desikar
* Abhisheka
* Oduvar
* Meikaval

## Distribution

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

* M.M.Dhandapani desikar

### Historical Personalities

* Siva prakasar
* Nammalvar

### Freedom fighters and social leaders

* Sardar Vedaratnam, freedom-fighter famous for Vedaraniam Salt March.
* Gooty Kesava Pillai (1860–1933), Indian journalist and freedom-fighter. Delegate from Anantapur at the first session of the Indian National Congress.
* Maruthanayagam Pillai (1725–1764), commandant for the British East India Company, later became administrator for Madurai. Also known as Muhammed Yusuf Khan.
* V. O. Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), famous Indian freedom fighter, the man who first supported a Scheduled Caste sage Swami Sahajaanantha, founder of first Indigenous Ship Company against British rule.
* Jeeva, Communist Leader.
* L. D. Swamikannu Pillai, Indian astronomer, former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly.
They do not mingle with other castes by marriage; but some do marry from other castes like Pillai, Saiva Vellalars

### Bureaucrats

* Navanethem Pillay, South African Judge, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
* Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai, a famous minister of Ramnad during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy

## List of Adheenam / mutts in Tamil Nadu
### Academics

* Subbayya Sivasankaranarayana Pillai (1901–1950), Indian mathematician
* Velakurichi Adheenam
* Dr. Sivathanu Pillai, head of Defence Research and Development Organisation
* Madurai Adheenam
* Elagu V. Elaguppillai-Scientist
* Mailam Pommapuram Adheenam
* Dr. Harish K Pillai, professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay), known in academic circles for his contribution to the field of Behavioral Theory of Systems, a fundamentally new approach to the study of systems
* Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam
* Dr.Emmanuel Pillai, director - Academics and Research, global hospitals, Chennai developed molecular medicine in India
* Sivagiri Adheenam
* Perur Veera saiva Adheenam
* Thiruvannamalai-Kundrakudi Adheenam
* Suriyanarkoil Adheenam
* Thiruppanandal Adheenam
* Senkol Adheenam
* Thuzhavoor Adheenam
* Kamakshipuri Adheenam
* Pollachi Adheenam
* AvaduthuRai Adeenam
* Dharmapuram Adheenam

## Desikar Mutts in brief

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

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

Sri la Sri Gnanaprakasha desiga swamigal is current thuzhavoor aheenam.

## Notables
### Spiritual

* Sri Arunagirinathar, Madurai Adeenam

### Tamil literature

* Velaiyar, Eminent Tamil poet
* Velaiyar, Eminent Tamil poet
* Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai

### Sports

* Senthamiz Chezhian (a) Muthukumarasamy desikar

### Historical personalities

* Siva prakasar
* Isanya desikar
* T. V. Sadasiva Pandarathar

### Freedom fighters and social leaders

* 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

* K.P.Desikar

### Music

* Dandapani Desikar
* Thomas Rathnam, Music Director

### Arts and cinema

* MM Dandapani Desigar a noted musical scholar
* Vijayakumar, actor
* Dharani, film director
* Dharani, film director
* Aparna Pillai, actress
* S.A.Chandrasekar, film director
* Vincent Therraisnathan, USA, singer, publisher, industrialist
* Vikraman, film director
* Vijayalakshmi, actress
* Sundar C, film director cum actor
* Anbuththamizh, writer, speaker, social interest, politician
* Arun Vijay, film actor
* Aparna Pillai, actress
* Azhagam Perumal, film director
* Vijayalakshmi, actress
* Thomas Rathnam, music director
* Thambi Ramiah, associate director turned actor

### Business

* Pritham Padmanaba desikar
* N.Shanmugam, Singapore

### Politicians

* Gnana Desikar - President of Tamil Nadu Congress
* B. S. Gnanadesikan - Chief of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
* Vijayadharani - M.L.A