Sudalai Madan
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Sudalai Madan or Madan, is a regional non-Vedic Tamil male deity who is popular amongst the least Sanskritized social groups of South India, particularly Tamil Nadu. This deity is very ancient. He seems to have originated in some ancestral guardian spirit of the villages or communities in Tamil Nadu, in a similar manner as Ayyanar.
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[edit] Other names
- Sudalai Maadan
- Madan
- Sudalai Mada Sami
- Sudaleshwaran
- Madasamy
- Maasana Muthhu
- Mundan Sami
- Irulappa Sami
- Mayandi
- Karadi madan (courtalam,kulasekaramangalam in tirunelveli district)
[edit] God of the dispossessed
Madan's principal role is being a protector and a hero (Veeran). He is the divinity of the dispossessed. Madan is usually considered to be the caste deity of the Konar, Thevar, Paraiyar, Nadar and other castes found in the extreme south of Tamil Nadu. This deity is very popular in the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. And he is said to have been born in Seevalaperi, Tirunelveli District.
Large Madan temples are rare. Madan shrines usually consist of simple stone platforms with stone pillars. They are usually located at the outskirts of the villages. Sometimes Madan is painted on the pillar and sometimes he is represented in sculpture form, but frequently those pillars are only white, daubed with red marks. When Madan is represented iconographically, he is usually standing in a threatening position, carrying weapons (club, sword, cleaver, whip) in both hands.
Owing to the non-Vedic origin of this deity, rituals in most Madan temples are officiated by non-Brahmin priests.
[edit] Isakkiyamman (Goddess Isakki)
Esakkiyamman shrines or pillars representing her are common in Madan temples. Goddess Isakki is worshipped for good causes, such as for child birth, for good character in children, for a better society, etc. Madan is considered to be the elder brother or protector of Isakki, so that in Madan shrines, the pillars representing Madan are usually taller than those of the female goddess.
[edit] Incorporation into the Hindu pantheon: Story of Harichandran
In an effort to incorporate Madan into the wider Hindu pantheon, he is considered to be the son of Sivan and Parvati.
Madan is also related with Harichandran and is thus revered by all communities for his proverbial honesty and his adherence to only the truth at all stages of his life. Harichandran is also worshipped as Masanamuthu in the Thiruchendur and Thirunelveli districts of Southern Tamil Nadu. Maasanamuthu is one of the names of Madan. Another name is Mundan. Katterum Perumal, the son of Harichandran, revives after regaining his life from his own funeral pyre. Katterum Perumal is worshipped as in the Kanyakumari and Thirunelveli districts.
[edit] Outside India
Madan is also popular amongst certain segments of the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Réunion and the French overseas territories in the Caribbean sea.
[edit] See also
- Isakki
- Ankalamma
- Ayyanar
- Heigh Court Maharaja (Sudalai Madan) in Pannerkulam Vill Nearest Kayadhar Tuticorin Dist Tamil Nadu
[edit] References
- Sudalai Madan temple and animal sacrifice
- Sudalai Madan amongst Indian origin Tamils
- South Indian Deities And Their Relative Following in Tamil Nadu
- Secularism and Religious Violence in Contemporary India
- Madurai Veeran
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