Ayyanar
deity Sri Lankan Tamil single tradition · 3
Ayyanar is a popular deity in almost all villages of Sri Lankan Tamils. The deity was first syncretized with Buddha, as Aiyan is the Tamil name for Buddha. Ayyanar is sometimes equated with Sasta.
↻ synthesized from 3 sources
When
- First attested
- 1500 BCE
- Attested period
- -1500 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Worshipped before the arrival of Indo-Aryans.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Veerabhadrar, Periandavar, Sudalaimadan, Sadaiudayar, Nondi Veeran, Kateri Amman, Sapta Kanni, Sankara Narayana, Selliamman, Valampuri Muneeshwarar, Virumandi, Pechiyamman, Maayan, Kazhuvanaathar, Annamar, Elu Kanniyar, Kanakampikai Amman, Kannaki Amman, Vairavar, Kattavarayan, Naccimar, Ampal, Naka Tampiran, Periyatampiran, Valliyakkan, Varunan, Virumar, Ilanthari, Grama Devta, Karuppasamy, Muniswara, Pothuraju, Mohini, Padmasuran, Muneeshwarar, Adishakti, Narasimha, Murugan, Annanmar Thangal, Azhiya Ilangai Amman, Shastha, Kurathiamman, Ellamman, Kamakshi, Angalamman, Kala Bhairavar, Kallalagar, Thillai Kali, Karuppu Sami, Veeramaathi Amman, Kodaiyalappan, Pavadairayan, Renukamba, Pachchaiamman, Draupadi Amman, Peradachiyamman, Periyandichiyamman, Marudhaiyan, Madurai Veeran, Muneeshvarar, Maada saamy, Thalavai Nalla Maada saamy, Mariamman, Bhadrakali, kali
Mentioned by
- Narasimha
- Murugan
- Annanmar Thangal
- Azhiya Ilangai Amman
- Shastha
- Kurathiamman
- Ellamman
- Kamakshi
- Angalamman
- Kala Bhairavar
- Kallalagar
- Thillai Kali
- Karuppu Sami
- Veeramaathi Amman
- Kodaiyalappan
- Pavadairayan
and 13 more
Sources
Source passages
“Ayyanar”
#9948 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Ayyanar, sometimes equated with Sasta is a popular deity in almost all villages. Aiyan is the Tamil name for Buddha and the Aiyanar deity was first syncretised with Buddha.”
#10671 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“For Tamils, Ayyanar is represented in an open space to better fulfill his duty. However there the goddess is given her own temple similar in form, and sometimes size, to a Vedic temple. In other regions, however, the goddess (since gods are less venerated in these areas) may be given a shrine at the edge of the village”
#22603 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001