#gramadevata

[arjuna-vallabha]

Goddess shrine at Nagpur, Puri District, Odisha

[kailasanath]

Malvan Deulwada - मालवण देऊळवाडा

Most towns in the south Konkan have a cluster of shrines and temples dedicated to the deities of the village (ग्रामदेवता). These form the focal point of religious celebrations for the town.

Such a cluster of temples and houses, houses of clans responsible for temple ceremonies and upkeep (मानकरी) and officiating Brahmins responsible for Nitya Puja and other rituals, is called a Deulwada.

The Deulwada of Malvan (coastal town in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, just north of Goa), is centered around five temples, each dedicated to a local deity which is also a form of one of the principal Gods of Hinduism. These are: 1. श्री देव रामेश्वर - Lord Shiva

2. श्री देव नारायण - Lord Vishnu

3. श्री देवी सातेरी - Goddess Durga

4. श्री देवी भावई - Goddess Maha Lakshmi

5. श्री देवी पावणाई - Goddess Maha Saraswati

Over the next few days, I will follow up with more detailed posts on each temple.

[arjuna-vallabha]

Gramadevata Dharmathakur, Bengal

[arjuna-vallabha]

Ayyanar and consorts, village shrine at Tamil Nadu

[arjuna-vallabha]

Grama Devata Temple in Ramagondanahalli, near Bengaluru, Karnataka

[arjuna-vallabha]

Gramadevata (village deity) temple and icon, Tiruvannmalai, Tamil Nadu

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Kolaviliamman Devi, Tamil Nadu

[arjuna-vallabha]

Arulmigu Siva Sudalai Andavar, Tamil Nadu