Aiyanar

Southern Indian regional deity. In the state
of Tamil Nadu Aiyanar is an important village deity, generally considered to be the
guardian of the village tank, bringer of rain,
and protector of the village. It is likely that
he is an indigenous deity who has been
assimilated into the Hindu pantheon.
Aiyanar is sometimes identified with
Aiyappa, although there are some discrepancies between the two—Aiyanar is a deity
associated with the protection of villages,
whereas Aiyappa is associated with the
hills, the jungle, and the hunt. For further
information see Louis Dumont, “A Folk
Deity of Tamil Nad: Aiyanar, the Lord,” in T.
N. Madan (ed.), Religion in India, 1991.