Sudalai Madan - God of The Dispossessed

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 Thevar, Naidu, Pillai, Senguntha Mudaliyar, Pallar/Mallar, Konar, Nadar, and other castes found in the southernmost Tamil Nadu. This deity is very popular in the southern districts. 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 (Sickle, 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.

Each Caste or families will have their own Madan temple in their villages.