Who are the village gods of Tamil Nadu? | Aiyanar, Mariamman - Storytrails

Who are the village gods of Tamil Nadu? | Aiyanar, Mariamman

In a small village near Madurai, the village gods are quite unlike the Vedic gods. They may look fearsome and grim, but have colourful and human personalities. They are the go-to gods in case of any trouble, illness or grief. The ancient village gods of Tamil Nadu are the personal guardians of the village, the protectors of the people and have a specific role to play in the lives of Keezha Kuil Kudi village people.

Take a drive through rural Tamil Nadu and at the entrance to many villages, you will be greeted by colourful mud horses with fierce men riding atop them. What do these terracotta figures symbolise? This short video is about ancient village Gods of south India; fearsome gods who protect, but are incredibly human as well. Listen to stories of how these gods may have originated, and learn about the customs they inspire to this day. This video takes you to a village called Keezha kuil kudi on the outskirts of Madurai in south India.


END OF STORY

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Email

You might also be interested in

Diwali, or the ‘festival of lights’ is one of the most popular festivals in India. There are many myths and legends associated with it, and different regions in India celebrate it in different ways and for different reasons. But did you know that there are certain Hindu communities that don’t celebrate it?
A long time ago, the mighty king of South India, Rajendra Chola, had conquered much of India's southern peninsula. And to celebrate his conquests, he wanted to build a new capital. To anoint this new city, he wanted nothing less than the sacred waters from the Ganges. So he set on a long expedition with his army to bring back the holy water from the river. But the expedition was not without danger. How did the Chola king not only conquer the kingdoms along the way but also go on to make the largest manmade lakes in India?
India in 2022 is still dealing with the Corona epidemic as it enters the third year. But this isn’t the first epidemic the world is facing, and it is certainly not the deadliest. The 1950s smallpox epidemic was worse. India's massive vaccination campaigns kept us relatively safe, but there were challenges.