Aiyanar

Aiyanar (Tamil ஐயனார் ) is a deity of Indian mythology. He is the patron deity of the Tamil country population.

In the myth Aiyanar is a son of Shiva and Mohini, a female manifestation of Vishnu. His women are Puranai and Pudgalai. As a caregiver, Indra he measured in itself, act as a ruler over the earth, which is why he was banished by him together with the Saptamatas protector of the people and the ruler of the demons on the earth. He rides since then and his two bodyguards Madurai Viran and Muniandi armed with a club to the villages in order to drive away evil demons. The encounter with him is to bring disaster, because he considers the people he met, for demons.

He is usually depicted with red skin color and braided hair, wearing pearl necklaces, his club, a scepter or a bow. Besides his statue often live great white horses, elephants and other animals are placed.

He is one of the few male deities, venerated at the Tamils ​​independently and not only as a companion of a female deity. Especially after recovering from an illness to be offered to him in the south of Tamil Nadu and Kerala votive offerings in the form of Tonpferden, but also figures of elephants, dogs or warriors. To his public, will take place in April or May hard his cult statues are washed and shrouded, then these fruits, rice and sugar are sacrificed. His bodyguard Viran obtained as a blood sacrifice sheep and poultry. His cult is gaining strength in the recent past again, which is returned to radio and television programs that had him on the subject.