They are entitled to crown in the “Thillai Natarajar Temple”, the family deity of imperial cholas. Others are not entitled for the same is clearly mentioned in the hymns of “Periya Puranam” of 12th century A.D written by the noted poet “Sekkizhar”.
The “Pichavaram Cholas” are mentioned in their documents as “Kshatriya” by caste.
The “Umapathi Sivacharya” (14th century) one among the “Thillai Dikshidars”, period “Parthavanam Mahatmiyam” and “Rajendrapura Mahatmiyam” published by the “Madras Sanskrit College” clearly says about the chola king “Vira Varma Chola of Pichavaram”.
That is why, the “Thilla Dikshitars” used to crown to “Pichavaram Chola Royal Family”.
The great imperial chola dynasty hails from the Vanniya Kula Kshatriya. The Poligars (Zamindar) of Pichavaram near Chidambaram are the descendant of imperial cholas. Only the clans of Cholas are entitled for crowing in the Golden roofed Chidambaram Natarajar temple, which is the family deity god (Kuladeivam) of imperial cholas. Others are not entitled for the same, according to well known Tamil Periya Puranam hymns.
The imperial cholas are the real kshatriyas of Southern India. According to Anbil copper plate of Sundara chola (10th century A.D) and the birudas assumed by the King Raja Raja Chola, the cholas are the real Kshatriyas. The descendant of the imperial cholas (i.e) the "Pichavaram Cholas" are Kshatriyas (i.e) Vanniya Kula Kshatriyar by caste according to the documents of the Royal Family.
The family deity God (Kuladeivam) of imperial Cholas is Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. That is why the Chola King Parantaka made a roof with five tons of pure Gold. Crowning ceremony will be performed in Nataraja temple to the Pichavaram Zamindars, who supercedes the heiarchy as next Chola king.
Those days the Kings were considered as equivalent to God and the Pattabishekam had been conducted in the sanctum sanctorum of Nataraja temple (i.e) Panchachara Padi. The Chief Priest used to wash the head of the king in Valampuri Sangu (a unique conch), which is used for God to perform abishekam.
Then the priest perform mantram and then anoint with pattam in the forehead of the king in "Palm Leaf with Mantras" and garland with "Aathi Malai", the chola clan family garland. After pattabishekam, the crowning ceremony held at 1000 pillar mandapam, which is called as "Raja Sabai." The Chief Priest (they called as Thillai Dikshidhars) anoint the Crown to the Chola King at the appropriate time with the slogans, that the Chola King to long live and the country to flourish.
After that, they handover the victorious Sword and their "Tiger Flag." The poets praise the Kings about the valours and prides. This custom and rituals clearly shows that the Pichavaram Zamindars are the descendants of imperial Cholas family and are very Pure Kshatriyas.
It is the custom of Chola Kings to crown in Chidambaram Nataraja Temple (Cholas family deity god) and that too, the Thillai Dikshidhars are only eligible to crown the Chola Kings and no other kings are not eligible for the same rights is clearly explained in "Kutruvanayanar episode" by the great poet "Sekhizhar" of 12th century.
Names of the Pichavaram Zamindars, the imperial Cholas descendants, Crowned in Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in the 20th century :
(a) Maha Raja Raja Sri Samidurai Surappa Chola (Crowned in 1908 A.D)
(b) Maha Raja Raja Sri Thillai Kannu Surappa Chola (Crowned in 1911 A.D)
(c) Maha Raja Raja Sri Andiyappa Surappa Chola (Crowned in 1943 A.D)
(d) Maha Raja Raja Sri Chidambaranatha Surappa Chola (Crowned in 1978 A.D)
His elder son yet to crown, since they are now in low economic conditions. The big Chidambaram Natarajar temple belongs to the property of Pichavaram Zamindars. The temple priest daily used to close the temple and handover the key to the Palace of Pichavaram (nine km from Chidambaram town), through palanquin bearers.
In the early morning King used to handover the key to temple priest through palanquin bearers. If any problem arose among the temple priest, the Pichavaram King used to come and solve the problem by sitting in "perambalam".
The "Chola Mandagapadi" still conducted by the Pichavaram Chola King twice in a year at the sanctum Sanctorum in the dais of "Surya Chandra Mandapam". This practice existing from the times of the great Kulotunga Chola-1.
The Pichavaram Royal Family have the marriage alliance at par with the Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas Royal Families such as "Udaiyar Palayam Zamindars", "Ariyalur Zamindars", "Mugasaparur Poligars" (Virudachalam), "Vadakal Poligars" (Sirkali), "Mayavaram Poligars", "Kadalangudi Poligars" (near Kumbakonam) ect.
