Muneeswarar

Muneeswarar, or Muneeswaran or Munisvaran (Tamil: முனீஸ்வரன் Malayalam: മുനീശ്വരൻ ), is a popular Hindu deity within Hinduism, and is worshipped by many, in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji and many more. He is sometimes referred to by different names, such as Muniandi, Muniyandi, Muniyappan, Muni Ayya, Ayya, Muni, amongst many others. Muneeswarar is mostly considered a guardian deity or minor, but is in some cases hierarchically considered to be on par with Lord Shiva, one of the main deities in the Hindu trinity. Although not much is known on the exact origins and history of Muneeswarar, he is often regarded to be related to the Hindu Lord Shiva. His name is a combination of "Muni" (sage or saint), and "Ishvara", an epithet or title of Shiva. Actually, more than being related to Lord Shiva, Munishwarar is considered as an avatar or form of Shiva. Muneeswarar is more of Dravidian Folk Hindu God, worshipped primarily in South India, than a mainstream Hindu God, though he is completely within Hinduism. Muneeswarar is seen as a village guardian deity in rural South India, and thus is related to other Dravidian Hindu Folk Gods such as Ayyanar, Karuppuswamy, Sudalai Madan, Madurai Veeran, etc. Muneeswarar, in addition to being a guardian of the village and it's people, is also seen as guardian of the Dravidian Folk Hindu Godesses such as Mariamman, Isakki Amman, etc.