Purohita

Traditional Purohita (Sanskrit: पुरोहित), in the Hindu context, means chaplain or family priest within the Vedic priesthood.

Temples like Tirupati, Simhachalam or Chathapuram Agraharam[6] run Vedic schools to teach wisdom to the aspiring purohita.

Since Vedic times the sponsor of the sacrifice, or yajamāna was only a distant participant while the hotṛ or brahman took his stead in the ritual.

Thus, in 1884, a hereditary purohita whose right had been contested by his older brother was given right to officiate in his village as well as damages and fees by the Appellate Civil Court in India.

Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund note that, "there is much evidence in ancient texts that there were two ideal types of Brahmanas in those days, the royal priest (rajapurohita) or advisor (rajaguru) and the sage (rishi) who lived in the forest and shared his wisdom only with those who asked for it.

[12] The violent scriptural conflict between Vasishtha and Vishvamitra, two of the most famous prelates of the Vedic age, for the post of purohita in the court of king Sudas, show how much importance was attached to the office in those days.

[15] Along with the loss of the privy purse, the Maharajas of India lost their princely status[16] and the role of the purohita as royal chaplains declined even more.

A Brahmin called Hiranyadama was sent from India to teach Tantric rites to Sivakaivalya whose family honoured the post of Royal purohita for nearly 250 years.

[19] Ties between the brahmanic lineage from India and the Khmer dynasty were reinforced by bonds of marriage: Indian Brahmin Agatsya married Yasomati, and Duvakara was wedded to Indralakshmi, daughter of king Rajendravarman.

[20] Thus, Sivasoma, the purohita who served as royal chaplain to Indravarman and Yasovarman I was also the grandson of King Jayendradhipativarman and the maternal uncle of Jayavarman II.

They lost their role due to the abolition of monarchy with the deposing of king Thibaw, but continues to engage in fortune telling.