"The history of Hinduism in India is very ancient.But the Folk tradition being followed in South india dates back beyond that.Local deities workship are one of the strong cultural eveidence which existed among south Indians mainly Tamils.
Vedic priests who are considered as Upper caste in northern India have tried to popularize their gods by many means.They have used the influence from the then rulers of various regions.Local deities are very common in South India mainly in two states Tamilnadu & Andhra Pradesh.Warriors who fought bravely and died were prayed by villagers,also innocent who was punished with injustice were also prayed as Deities.These Folk Deities has numerous interesting stories around them.Many of such stories are not available nowadays for record however some of the stories are still available with us because of Folk Songs.Villupattu & Kooththu are some of the folk arts in which stories of deities are available.The Vedic priests was worried by the wide spread popularity of these deities.They have attempted to infuse Vedic based gods by including some of these local deities in their temple.They even changed them as vegan gods inorder to enjoy the commercial benefits by attracting more crowd towards their temple.In this process of Hinduisation,many of the families lost their identity.
Many of the locals who has tried to explore their folk deity but found it very difficult because many of the elders who had known with more information about their folk/family deity is not living anymore.
Folk Deities are normally prayed by offering non-vegan foods whereas vedic gods are vegan.How come a non-vegan god's deity is available in vegan god temples now.This is a clear & live proof that in the process of Hinduisation the folk culture has been dominated to a large extent by political influence.
For example Brahma is a vedic god, in tamil culture there was no gods being prayed other than natural elements or local deities.
Women who died to prove her chastity are being murdered/died by disease in young age were prayed as deities.Women godesses are connected with natural elements like MARIAMMAN ( Mari - Rain,Amman-Divine mother/Women ) is a deity which is believed to be rain goddess who brings rain during famine and protect many weather oriented diseases.AYYANAAR is a male deity , normally prayed in the form of stone.There are some folk deities whose stones are present near th the grave yard or at the outskirts of the village.People believe they protect the villagers by guarding from enemies.
In a society where folk arts are connected with their culture is more beneficial to preserve their tradition in history,so that the life of our ancestors , their beliefs , true memories can be find out by future generation without being lost in the process of many changes happened/happening now."
