Sudalai Madan

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Sudalai Madan
God of Justice, God of Cremation ground, God of Preservation, Power, Energy, Strength and Protection
Affiliation	, , Adi Shakti, Parvati, Kali,
Abode	Cremation ground Burial Ground
Weapon	Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch shell), Trishula (trident), Gada (mace), Bow and Arrow, Khanda (sword) and Shield, Ghanta (bell)
Mount	Horse
Festivals	, Chithirai festival, ,parai, , , Villu Paatu , Koothu ,
Personal information
Siblings	Lord Ganesh, Murugan ,
Consort

sudalai madan

Sudalai Madan is a rural god worshipped predominantly in South India. He is regarded as a Kaval deivam ("guardian deity") that protects against evil forces. In central to southern Kerala, he is known as Madan thampuran, Chudala madan or simply as Madan.

The god is said to have created him and given the name Sudalai Madan as the protector against evil forces, emanating from cemeteries and burial grounds (sudalai). He is usually found with mother goddess Pechiamman, Brahmasakthi Amman and Sudalai Mundan. Madathi is his consort.

Sudalai is the guardian of the kodimaram (Flagstaff) in every temple. Sudalai Madan or Madan, is a regional Tamil male deity who is popular in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu. He is considered to be the son of Shiva and Parvati. He seems to have originated in some ancestral guardian spirit of the villages or communities in Tamil Nadu, in a similar manner as Ayyanar.

He is considered to be the son of Sivan and Parvati. The story about Mada Samy tells of his birth on Kailasa, the mountain home of Siva and Parvathi. It is said that Devi Parvathi wanted a child, but Lord Siva had sworn celibacy. He had promised to be chaste at the request of the gods, since they had feared that his union with Parvathy would be so powerful it would shatter the universe. Siva suggests another way to have a child. He tells Parvathy to go to Patala Loka, the watery underworld, and to gather a spark from the sacred lamp that burns there. Parvathi did so, carrying the spark in the hem of her skirt.

When Parvathi Devi returned to Kailasa, she opened the folds of her skirt, and found that the spark had become a shapeless mass of tissue. she was really worried and pleaded shiva to give her a solution. Thus sudalai madan is often called as Mundan which means a person without head and other body parts. Siva asked Brahma to give the baby a shape. shiva gave life to the baby . He named him as sudalai madan because, he came to the world because of a lamp(sudar)and he was shapeless. The boy was blessed by everyone and he was brought up as their son.

Parvathi initially feeds the child on Amrita (the nectar of immortality), instead of on breast milk. So it is said that the child became immortal. However, the child also became desirous for solid food. He went to the cremation grounds ("sudalai") on Kailasa, and began to eat the bodies that were burning there. When he finished those, he began to eat everything around him, the other spirits, the animals, the trees, the ground itself etc. He feasted with a heavy appetite.

Because he ate so much, and since he had such a fondness for meat, it was decided that he ought not remain in Heaven. Siva instructed him to go to Earth, and to care for its people. Siva proclaimed that Mada Samy's protection and kindness would be re-paid with offerings of cooked food and drink, and thus he would always have a meal, as well as people who would pray to him. So Mada Samy came to earth, accompanied by a number of singers and dancers who were sent by Siva to see to his worship. Many of the Paraiyar and Kanniyar drummers who play during the rituals to Mada Samy claim descent from these divine musicians.

Madan is also popular amongst certain segments of the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Réunion and the French overseas territories in the Caribbean sea.

Temples[]

Temples of Sudalai Madan include:

sudalai madan

• Aatrangarai Sudalai madan ,Ilanji ,Tenkasi
• Seevalaperi sudalai madan
• Kayathar sudalai madasamy kovil
• Arulmigu Shri Sudalai Eswarar Thirukovil, Maramangalam, Thoothukudi.(மாரமங்கலம் அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ சுடலை ஈஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்)
• Sri Karayadi Sudalai Madaswamy, Pechiamman Temple, Sathankulam
• மயிலாடும்பாறை சுடலை ஆண்டவர் ஆலயம், முதலைக்குளம், திருநெல்வேலி
• Otha Panai Sudalai Madan Swami Temple, Sirumalanchi
• High Court Maharaja Temple, Arumuga Mangalam, Thoothukudi
• Arulmigu Sri Sudalai Eswarar Temple, pallapalayam, udumalpet, thiruppur coimbatore
• Vijayanarayanapuram
• Oosikattu/Ooikattu Sudalai Madan Temple
• Palavur, Arulmigu Sudalai Kovil
• Ozhuginaseri Masana Sudalai Temple
• Maha SivaSudalai Temple, Colachel and the entire region of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari district
• Vaigai Sri Sudalaimadasami Temple, Kilakkarai (Ramnanathapuram District)
• PUDUPATI ARULMIGU PERIYA OORANI SUDALAI (Alangulam Tirunelveli District)
• Sudalai Madan Temple in Gopalasumdram
• SullaKarai Sudalai Madaswamy Andipatti, Alangulam, Tirunelveli District
• Arulmigu Sri Sudalai Mada Swami Temple, Irulappapuram, Kanyakumari District
• Adukkupeeda Sudalai Madaswamy, Sinthamani, Tirunelveli District
• Arulmigu Valli Vaikkal Sudali Madan Swamy Temple, Arumuganeri, Thoothukudi District
• Arulmigu Poonankundru Siva Sudalai Madaswamy kovil, Therkusalai, Agastheeswaram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
• Sri Sudalai Madanthambiran Swamy Temple, Navalady, Tirunelveli district.
• Arulmigu kalathu kovil Sudalai madan swamy kovil, Vellamadam, Kanyakumari.
• Arulmigu Athiadi Sudalaimadan kovil, athiputhur, Tirunelveli Dt.
• Sudalai Kovil, Palazvur, Tirunelveli
• Madan Kovil, Karamana, Trivandrum, Kerala

Legend[]

The tales of Sudalai Madan originate from folk tradition, rather than Hindu scriptures..

The goddess Parvati wishes to have a child; her husband Shiva suggests that she perform austerities to gain the same. Accordingly Parvati pleases Shiva by her penance in Ayiramkal Mandapam at Kailash, the celestial abode of Shiva. He plucks a lock of hair which started to burn as soon as he threw it. The fire spreads to her mundanai (a part of the saree). From the fire, Sudalai Madan is born.

Parvati initially feeds the child with amrita (the nectar of immortality), instead of breast milk - making him immortal. The child also wanted solid food. He went to the cremation grounds (sudalai) on Kailash and began to eat the burning corpses. Since he had such a fondness for meat, Shiva instructed him to go on Earth and protect humans. Offerings of cooked food and drink would be offered to him, seeking his favour.

sudalai madan

Worship[]

Often Sudalai Madan statues are triangular pillar-like structures. Figured statues are stone carved. He is situated either in the open or under a simple roof. The devotees serve him non-vegetarian foods which is against Hindu tradition . Goats, chickens, and pigs are sacrificed and served to him. Fridays are prescribed for his worship. Special poojas are conducted the last Friday of Tamil months. Main festivals are conducted annually. These festivals are called "Kodai". Kodai is celebrated for one day to many days according to the devotees' need. Some famous temples celebrate it for 10 days.

On these occasions, the deities are decorated with flowers. Some people become possessed and devotees talk to God through them. God goes hunting in the cemetery through this spiritually possessed person. Thappattai beats, Kaniyan Koothu (Maguda Kacheri) and Villupattu are the main performances of Sudalai Maadan Kodai festival.

Outside India[]

Madan is popular amongst the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Réunion and French overseas territories in the Caribbean sea.

References[]

• Sudalai Madan amongst Indian origin Tamils
• South Indian Deities And Their Relative Following in Tamil Nadu
• Secularism and Religious Violence in Contemporary India

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