| Pavadairayan | |
|---|---|
 The deity at a festivity for Angalamman | |
| Venerated in | Dravidian folk religion |
| Region | Tamil Nadu |
Pavadairayan is a Dravidian folk and Hindu deity worshipped in rural Tamil Nadu. He is considered to be a kaval deivam, and best recognised for serving as a general for the deity Aiyanar. [1]
The deity is associated with the myth of the Mayana Kollai, where he accompanies Angala Parameshvari, an aspect of Parvati, to slay a demon that lurked in a cremation ground. [2]
Pavadairayan is also often described to be a sea god who is venerated by adherents along with their adherence to mainstream Shaivism. [3]
As a kaval deivam deity, the deity is usually placed outside the sannadhi of the central deity. Pavadairayan is unique in the fact that he is the only entity who has been portrayed sitting on the lap of Angala Parameshvari.
As a village deity, Pavadairayan is worshipped mostly through stones and trees. In several Angala Parameswari's temples, Pavadairayan has a separate sannidhi. There are only a few temples dedicated to Pavadairayan. [4]
According to local tradition, the place where Pavadairayan lived was called Rayampuram before being renamed Royapuram. The place where Pavadairayan served as a protector for Kali is Royapuram, at the Kalmandapam Angalaparameswari Amman Temple. [5]
Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman, is a Hindu goddess of rain, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season of Ādi throughout Tamil Nadu and the Deccan region, the largest being the Ādi Thiruviḻa. Her worship mainly focuses on bringing rains and curing diseases like cholera, smallpox, and chicken pox. Mariamman is worshipped in accordance with local traditions such as Pidari or the Gramadevatai. She is considered as a guardian deity by many South Indian village-dwellers.
Porur is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India. It is situated in the Maduravoyal taluk of Chennai district in the southern part of the city. Since 2011, it has been a part of the Chennai Corporation and included in zone number 11.
Sudalai Madanlit. 'cremation ground chief' is a rural Hindu deity worshipped predominantly in South India, particularly in the districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, and Thiruvananthapuram. He is considered by adherents to be a son of Shiva and Parvati. He seems to have originated in some ancestral guardian spirit of the villages or communities in Tamil Nadu, in a similar manner as Ayyanar. He is regarded as a kaval deivam who protects people against evil forces. Sudalai Madan is also called Madan thampuran, Chudala madan, or simply as Madan.
Ayyanar is a Hindu deity venerated in South India and Sri Lanka. His worship is prevalent among the Dravidian peoples. Some studies suggest that Ayyanar may have also been worshipped in Southeast Asian countries in the past. He is primarily worshipped as one of the guardian folk deities of Tamil Nadu. The temples of Ayyanar in the countryside are usually flanked by gigantic and colourful statues of him and his companions riding horses or elephants.
Village deities are a common feature of the Hindu pantheon of deities. They are known as Gramadevatas. Each Hindu region and caste of India and South Asia has its share of village deities. Sri Lankan Tamils venerate their own group of village deities throughout Sri Lanka, specifically in the Tamil-dominated north and east of the island nation.
Karuppu Samilit. 'black deity' is one of the regional Tamil male deities popular among the rural social groups of Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala. He is one of the 21 associated folk-deities of Ayyanar, and is hence was one among the demigods or kaval deivams in the Dravidian folk religion. He is sometimes considered to be a form of Shiva among Shaivas.
Isakki, also called Isakki Amman, is a folk Hindu goddess. The term Isakki derived from the Sanskrit yakshi, through the Prakrit yakki. Her veneration remains popular among certain Hindu communities in the southern Indian districts of Tamil Nadu, specifically the Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Salem districts. She is generally considered to be one of the 'village deities'. Village deities like her are believed to act as guardian spirits.
Nainativu, is a small but notable island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The name of the island alludes to the folklore inhabitants, the Naga people. It is home to the Hindu shrine of Nagapooshani Amman Temple; one of the prominent 64 Shakti Peethas, and the Buddhist shrine Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya.
Angala Devi, also known as Angalamman and Angala Paramesvari, is an aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati, primarily worshipped in the villages of South India as a kaval deivam, a guardian deity. She is often additionally considered to be an aspect of one of the Matrikas.
Shasta is a Hindu deity of Dravidian origin, usually associated with Shiva and Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, Shasta is considered to be another name of Ayyappan, described as the offspring of Shiva and Mohini. His principal function is to act as a kuladevata of a given clan, as well as act as a guardian of a village's boundaries. In South India, he is identified with the Ayyanar in Tamil Nadu and the Ayyappan in Kerala.
Kondathu Kaliamman Temple is an Amman temple located at Pariyur near Gobichettipalayam in Tamil Nadu, India. There are other temples, namely Sri Amarapaneeswarar Temple, Sri Adinarayana Perumal Temple and Sri Angalamman Temple nearby.
Thyagaraja Temple is a Shiva temple, located in the town of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Puttridankondar, and is represented by the lingam. Daily poojas are offered to his idol referred to as Maragatha lingam. The main idol of worship is Lord veedhi Vidangar (Thiyagarajar), depicted as a Somaskanda form .His consort Parvathi is depicted as Kondi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written in Tamil by saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Hinduism in Tamil Nadu finds its earliest literary mention in the Sangam literature dated to the 5th century BCE. The total number of Tamil Hindus as per 2011 Indian census is 63,188,168 which forms 87.58% of the total population of Tamil Nadu. Hinduism is the largest religion in Tamil Nadu.
Thiruvalluvar Temple, also known as the Ekambareswarar–Kamakshi Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the poet-saint Valluvar in the neighborhood of Mylapore in Chennai, India. The shrine is located within the Ekambareswarar temple complex. Believed to have been constructed in the early 16th century, the temple was extensively renovated in the 1970s. Traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Saint Valluvar, the temple is the oldest ever built to Valluvar. The temple also serves as the venue for meetings of Tamil language enthusiasts. While many consider the temple as the birthplace of Valluvar, some consider it as his samadhi.
Nearly 33,000 ancient temples, many at least 800 to 2000 years old, are found scattered all over Tamil Nadu. As per Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board, there are 38,615 temples. Most of the largest Hindu Temples reside here. Studded with complex architecture, variety of sculptures, and rich inscriptions, the temples remain the very essence of the culture and heritage of Tamil land, with historical records dating back to at least 3,000 years.
Angala Parameswari Temple is a Hindu temple located in Royapuram in the northern part of Chennai, India. The presiding deity is the goddess Angala Parameswari. There are shrines to Kasi Viswanatha, Visalakshi, Vinayaka, Bhairava, Navagrahas, Durga, etc. The temple is administered by the Ministry of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the five holy shrines of the Viswakarma community in Chennai district.
Vekkali Amman Temple is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Vekkaali, a form of the goddess Kali. It is located in Woraiyur, a neighbourhood in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. The central shrine of the temple houses the image of Vekkali Amman and the major feature of the temple is the absence of roof over the sanctum. The temple is known from the period of early Cholas, but there are no historical records. The people of Woraiyur see Vekkali Amman as their guardian deity. The temple has six daily rituals in its calendar and celebrates six annual festivals. The temple chariot is made of gold and was launched during 2010. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Masani Amman is a Hindu deity. She is primarily worshipped as a clan deity by certain classes in Tamil Nadu, where she is regarded as an avatar (manifestation) of Mahadevi. Her temple is located in Anaimalai, Pollachi, Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu state, India.
Mampatti is a village in Singampunari Taluk in Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It comes under Mampatti South panchayath union. It is a constituent of the ancient "Mallakottai Nadu" once, which was a part of 'Sivagangai Seemai'. For administrative purpose, the whole Mampatti region was divided into three Revenue Villages namely South Mampatti, North Mampatti and Mampatti Devasthanam, each under the authority of a Village Administrative Officer. Mampatti Devasthanam is the region that covers the land of temples that belongs to Sivagangai Samasthanam Devasthanam.
Mayana Kollai is a festival celebrated after Shivarathri on the first full moon day of February at the Angala Parameswari temples in Tamil Nadu, India. It is widely celebrated in the fishing communities as Angala Parameswari Amman is the deity worshiped by the fishermen.