V
V.Balasubramani
Guest
Bringing folk deities into Vedic fold
Structure and rituals of temples for Sudalaimadan, Mutharamman in ahamic tradition
It was a process that began in the mid-1980s in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, and it is now all-pervasive. Folk deities in innumerable temples have gradually attained the status of Vedic gods, with the metamorphosis seen in every aspect ranging from the temple structure to the performance of rituals.
Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts have countless temples dedicated to folk deities such as Sudalaimadan, Mutharamman, Santhanamari Amman, Soodapidari Amman and their familiars. Most of them now bear a close resemblance to the traditional temples of Vedic gods, albeit without a granite structure.
Kodai, the temple festival in these temples in the past, used to begin with the performance of rural art forms such as naiyandi melam, karagam, villupattu and kaniyan koothu. Now, the festival invariably begins with vilakku pooja, associated with the Vedic tradition, and chanting of Sanskrit slogans. This process is alien to the folk tradition.
Sanskiritisation
“It is not a planned process in general, but it was meticulously planned in Kanyakumari district. It is the first step towards the Sanskritisation process and resulted in the folk tradition gradually losing its core elements, especially rituals and folk art forms. It will also pave way for monoculture, instead of pluralism,” says A.K. Permual, who has done extensive research on folk tradition, deities and arts.
Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/bringing-folk-deities-into-vedic-fold/article7419155.ece
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- The temple of folk deity Mutharamman constructed in Vedic style; and original old style temple of a folk deity in Kanyakumari district.— Photos: Special Arrangement
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- The temple of folk deity Mutharamman constructed in Vedic style; and original old style temple of a folk deity in Kanyakumari district.— Photos: Special Arrangement
Structure and rituals of temples for Sudalaimadan, Mutharamman in ahamic tradition
It was a process that began in the mid-1980s in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, and it is now all-pervasive. Folk deities in innumerable temples have gradually attained the status of Vedic gods, with the metamorphosis seen in every aspect ranging from the temple structure to the performance of rituals.
Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts have countless temples dedicated to folk deities such as Sudalaimadan, Mutharamman, Santhanamari Amman, Soodapidari Amman and their familiars. Most of them now bear a close resemblance to the traditional temples of Vedic gods, albeit without a granite structure.
Kodai, the temple festival in these temples in the past, used to begin with the performance of rural art forms such as naiyandi melam, karagam, villupattu and kaniyan koothu. Now, the festival invariably begins with vilakku pooja, associated with the Vedic tradition, and chanting of Sanskrit slogans. This process is alien to the folk tradition.
Sanskiritisation
“It is not a planned process in general, but it was meticulously planned in Kanyakumari district. It is the first step towards the Sanskritisation process and resulted in the folk tradition gradually losing its core elements, especially rituals and folk art forms. It will also pave way for monoculture, instead of pluralism,” says A.K. Permual, who has done extensive research on folk tradition, deities and arts.
Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/bringing-folk-deities-into-vedic-fold/article7419155.ece
