Take a drive through rural Tamil Nadu and at the entrance to many villages, you will be greeted by colourful mud horses with fierce men riding atop them. What do these terracotta figures symbolise? This short video is about village gods of Tamil Nadu; fearsome gods who protect, but are incredibly human as well. Listen to stories of how these ancient village deities may have originated, and learn about the myths and legends, and the customs and beliefs they inspire to this day. This video takes you to an Aiyanar temple in a village called Keezha kuil kudi, on the outskirts of Madurai in south India.

Read more about the village Goddess Mariamman on our blog here.