Sudalai Madan
| Sudalai Madan | |
|---|---|
Idols of Sudalai Madan and his consort | |
| Affiliation | Shaivism, Dravidian folk religion |
| Abode | Cremation grounds, chariot streets, temple towers |
| Weapon | Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch shell), Trishula (trident), Gada (mace), Bow and Arrow, Khanda (sword) and Shield, Ghanta (bell) Vallayam (Spear) |
| Mount | Horse |
| Festivals | Tiruvila, Chithirai festival, Padukaii, Parai, Karakaattam, Maguda Kacherii, Villu Paatu, Koothu, Kaniyan Koothu (Maguda Kacheri) |
| Genealogy | |
| Siblings | Vinayaka, Murugan |
| Consort | Madathi |
Sudalai Madan (IAST: Cutalai Mādan) lit. 'cremation ground chief' is a rural Dravidian folk religion deity worshipped predominantly in South India, particularly in the districts of Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, and Thiruvananthapuram. He is considered by adherents to be a son of the Hindu deities 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 regarded as a kaval deivam (guardian deity) who protects people against evil forces. In Kerala, Sudalai Madan is also called Madan thampuran, Chudala madan, or simply as Madan. There are many temples in Kerala dedicated to Sudalai Madan.
Shiva is said to have created him and given him the name Sudalai Madan as the protector against evil forces, emanating from cemeteries and cremation grounds (sudalai). He is usually found with mother goddess Pechiamman, Mutharamman, Esakkiamman, Brahmashakti Amman, and Sudalai Mundan. Madathi is his consort.
Sudalai is the guardian of the kodimaram (flagstaff) in several temples and also a kuladeivam(god) of folk lore peoples.