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AYYANAR AND MARIAMMAN, FOLK DEITIES IN SOUTH INDIA Ebook

120 pages and 160 photos

by Christa Neuenhofer

£2.51
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About the Ebook
The book “AYYANAR AND MARIAMMAN, FOLK DEITIES IN SOUTH INDIA” that is divided into two parts is about tutelary folk deities, gods that have their origin in Dravidian religion and who are believed to protect villages and their inhabitants in India’s southernmost state Tamil Nadu.
The first part of the book is about Ayyanar and his companion gods. Huge statues of these gods have been erected on the outskirts of many villages, where they are venerated in open-air shrines. They are supposed to protect the residents against demons and ghosts at night. To facilitate this task, Ayyanar statues are provided with huge clay horses on which he is believed to ride around the villages at night.
The second part of the book is about Mariamman, goddess of diseases and fertility, who shall protect villagers against illnesses and bless the people and their fields with fertility. The goddess is venerated in different manifestations, e.g. she can be a beautiful full-bodied goddess or just a stone head sheltered by a hood of cobras. In her incarnation as snake goddess even anthills are worshipped as her abode.
Features & Details
  • Primary Category: Religion & Spirituality
  • Version Fixed-layout ebook, 118 pgs
  • Publish Date: Jul 26, 2013
  • Last edit Jul 16, 2024
  • Language English
  • Keywords Mariamman, Mariamman, மாரியம்மன், Mariamman, gods, pamdabam, नवग्रह, navagraha, neem, Samayapuram, camphor, kapala, trishula, damaru, lalitasana, vermilion, turmeric, Nagattamman, Kutralam, Irukkankudi, सप्तमातृका, saptamātṝkās, मातृ, mātaraḥ, Maariamma, மாரியம்மன், Mariamman, மாரி, Māri, Kaniyan, Muthumaliyapuram, Sorimuthu, Katchadai, Mariamman, Mariamman, மாரியம்மன், Mariamman, gods, pamdabam, नवग्रह, navagraha, neem, Samayapuram, camphor, kapala, trishula, damaru, lalitasana, vermilion, turmeric, Nagattamman, Kutralam, Irukkankudi, सप्तमातृका, saptamātṝkās, मातृ, mātaraḥ, Maariamma, மாரியம்மன், Mariamman, மாரி, Māri, Kaniyan, Muthumaliyapuram, Sorimuthu, Katchadai, Mother Mari, மாரியம்மா Amman, Aatha அம்மன், Matrikas मातृका, मातरः Matris mātṛs, இருக்கன்குடி மாரியம்மன் கோயில் Mariamman Temple, Courtallam குற்றாலம், Thiruvakkarai Vakkrakali Amman, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, reclining clay goddess, white-ant hill, pregnant goddess, Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, wish trees, naga stones, peepal tree, Mulaipari Festival, Surya (सूर्य), Chandra (चंद्र), Mangala (मंगल), Budha (बुध), Brihaspati (बृहस्पति), Shukra (शुक्र), Shani (शनि), Rahu (राहु), Ketu (केतु), Aiyyanar Ayanar Iyenar ஐயனார் Muneeswarar Munishswaran Muniappan Muneeswaran முனீஸ்வரன், கருப்புசாமி Karuppasamy Kovil Koil கோவில், Ralur Anaikarai, Madurai மதுரை Villayuthamudaiya Arevakunthi Mallur Salem, Kanikudiyruppu kokkara Alagiapandiyapuram, DistrictDravidian NightTirunelveli the of Still BontaIn sacrificeSteven Kovilanimal TalukPachaiamman SanctuaryAmbasamudram horsesMundanthurai Samudramterracotta KoilNamana VeeranVillaiyandavar SamiMadurai TempleMuthiah Ayyanar SamiMuthiah AyyanarKaruppu earrings
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About the Creator
Neuenhofer
Christa Neuenhofer
Bocholt, Germany

Christa Neuenhofer was born in 1949 in Germany. For many years she has travelled to countries in Asia, Africa and Central America. As she has a particular anthropological interest in tribal communities, she has visited quite a number of remote places, mainly in Asia. Especially in India she went to rural areas and took photos of tribal people and their traditional life - images of a cultural heritage which in only a few years will have been swept away by globalization. She has published many of these photos on the Internet ( http://www.pbase.com/neuenhofer ) When visiting indigenous people she and her husband have always shown a special interest in what people believe. They had to notice that many religions vanish more and more due to still very active missionaries. This curiosity in traditional faiths has now brought her to Togo and Benin to learn more about voodoo, a religion that has an increasing number of believers worldwide.

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