Village deities are the patron deities of village. They are found in almost all villages throughout India particularly in Tamil Nadu . They are known as kaval deivam or guardian spirits in Tamil and Kula Deivam or Local Village Gods. They are associated to a main deity who is generally ascribed as Kula deivam by various sects of community and clan groups as part of the tracing their generation through centuries.
Most of these village deities have their shrines on the periphery (border or outskirts) of the village as a representation of their Village Guardian position. Hence they are referred as "Peripheral Folk Deity". Amman deities may be installed in the center of the village but the Sonai, Sudalai or the Formless Nadukkal deities may be installed close to graveyards.These Village deities are either represented in the form of a huge, fierce statue or as a simple stone. Most of these temples are not closed premises but are simple and small worship areas. Weapons such as a trident or a lance or sickles are also
The worship pattern is non-vedic through Folk tale, Folk Song and Folk arts such as villupattu, karagam, poikal kuthurai, silambam, etc.. The local priest might offer flowers or Vibhuthi(holy ash)or kumkumam and chandanam (sandle paste) or Holy flowers to the worshipers and may play the oracle role for shamanism.
REASON FOR DESIGNING
I got inspiration to work on this by keenly observing the deities ferocious and aggressive appearance (the eyes and the weapons that they carry).The colors mostly used are earthen colors(lime for white, charcoal for black, and gobi for yellow and kaavi for red) which are painted by the artisans who are makes the idols in clay(terracottas).I witnessed the very beginning of the work of these clay figures, their development and the final touches(letting them dry in the sun after finishing and burnt in the country kiln) and after this the colors are given which are so vibrant to call the attention.So these features made me to illustrate and design an imaginary book titled as" Grama Devatas".The layout, fonts I created,and the colors used here I hope suits with the village environment.
THE COMPOSITION
THANK YOU!!!
