Sudalai Madan

A fully decorated statue of Sudalai Madan in the centre with Veriyandi Swami to the left and Madathy Amman to right. This picture is from the shrine of Thamaraikulam Sudalai Madan Kovil, located in Melakadayanallur, Tenkasi, Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Sudalai Madan is a male Hindu deity who is generally venerated by Tamil-speaking Hindus in Dravida, particularly in the Tamil Nadu region. He was created by Lord Shiva, so he is considered as son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. In Tulunad he is usually accompanied with Therd madan means protector and sudalai means cemetery or burial ground. He is the eradicator of evil forces and bridles evil forces. Evil forces are believed to emanate from cemeteries and burial grounds. Sudalai reigns over evil forces, so Sri Shiva thus dubbed him as Sudalai Madan. Sudalai is also termed as the Kaval Deivam, or the protecting deity. Sudalai Madan is the paramount of the protecting deities. Sudalai Madan is often termed as "Maharaja".

There are others deities with the name Madan, but Sudalai Madan is the supersedes all of them. Sudalai is generally considered a rural deity. In the Tamil language, this is referred to as a Grama Devathai.

He is mostly with mother goddess Pechiamman (form of Kaali), Brahmasakthi Amman and his brother Sudalai Mundan. Madathy is the consort of Sudalai Madan.

Whoever act against dharma cannot escape from Sudalai Madan. Sudalai Madan will never forgive anyone who is harming his devotees. One has to be pure at his heart and actions to become a devotee of Sudalai Madan. There is the belief that Sudalai is the guardian of the Kodimaram (flagstaff) in every temple.

Temples

Places of Famous and Powerful Sudalai Madan temples are

A very old statue of SudalaiMadan is situated in Thanumalayanputhoor, This Idol was dedicated here by more than 150 years ago
  1. Kulasekara Arulmigu Sudalaimadaswamy Koil, Panchalingapuram, Mahadhanapuram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629002
  2. Sri Karayadi Sudalai Madaswamy, Pechiamman temple, Sathankulam
  3. மயிலாடும்பாறை சுடலை ஆண்டவர் ஆலயம், முதலைக்குளம், திருநெல்வேலி
  4. PERUNGALATTHUR SUDALAI MUTHU MAADASWAMY TEMPLE,(PERUNGALATTHUR, Chennai-600 063)
  5. sree siva sudalaimadan swamy Temple , sivasubramaniapuram , Radhapuram Taluk , Tirunelveli District.
  6. Seevalaperi
  7. Otha Panai Sudalai Madan Swami Temple, sirumalanchi, Thiruvenkatanathapuram, Valliyoor, Tamil Nadu 627101
  8. High Court Maharaja Temple, Arumuga mangalam, Thenkalam puthur (Tirunelveli)
  9. நாகர்கோவில் மணிஅடிச்சான் கோவில் சுடலைமாடசுவாமி
  10. Vijayanarayanapuram
  11. Oosikattu/Ooikattu Sudalai Madan Temple
  12. Sirumalanji
  13. Palavur, Arulmigu Sudalai Kovil
  14. Arulmigu Sri Vattrakathan Sudalaimadan Kovil, (Achioor) Valliyoor
  15. Pudupatti, Arulmigu Sri Sekkadi Sudalaimadan Kovil (Tirunelveli District). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1aDO41FY1c
  16. Vannathankulam/ Thanumalayanputhoor Siva Sudalai, Mayana Kali Temple
  17. Vadalivilai Sudalai Madan Temple, Nagercoil
  18. Hindhu Nadar Samuthaya Vagai Sudalai Madan Temple, Pattahasaliyan villai, Nagercoil, KK District
  19. Ottha Panai Veera Sudalai Madan Swamy Temple, Perumal Nager, Pattahasaliyan Villai, Nagercoil, KK District.
  20. Ozhuginaseri Masana Sudalai Temple
  21. Maha SivaSudalai Temple, Colachel and All the places in the region of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari district
  22. Vaigai Sri Sudalaimadasami Temple, Kilakkarai (Ramnanathapuram District)
  23. Arulmigu SUDALAI ESWARAR SWAMY (maaramangalam Thoothukudi District)
  24. PUDUPATI ARULMIGU PERIYA OORANI SUDALAI (Alangulam Tirunelveli District)
  25. Motta Kalunga swamy Temple ( Avudayanoor Tirunelveli District)
  26. Sudalai madan temple in Gopalasumdram
  27. SullaKarai Sudalai Madaswamy Andipatti (Alangulam Tirunelveli District)
  28. Arulmigu Sri Sudalai Mada Swami Temple, Irulappapuram, Kanyakumari District.
  29. Adukkupeeda Sudalai Madaswamy, Sinthamani, Tirunelveli District
  30. Adukkupeeda Sudalai Madaswamy, Tirunelveli Town, Tirunelveli District
Iconic representation of Madan in a village shrine in South India

History of Sudalai

There is no written script for Sudalai Madaswamy . But the history is vocally transferred from ancient.There are lots of stories which tells about the birth of Sudalaimadan.

Born in Kailash by penance of Parvathi is first birth.

The another story about Sudalai Madaswamy tells of his birth on Kailasa, the mountain home of Siva and Parvathi. It is said that Devi Parvathi wanted a child, but Lord Siva had sworn celibacy. He had promised to be chaste at the request of the gods, since they had feared that his union with Parvathy would be so powerful it would shatter the universe. Siva suggests another way to have a child. He tells Parvathy to go and do penance in Ayiramkal Mandapam (Place having 1000 pillars in Kailash). Parvathi did penance. Shiva was happy about that. Then he plucked his hair, it started to burn as soon as he plucked and threw in that place. The fire spread on her mundanai ( a part of saree). From the fire Sudalai Madan is born.

Parvathi initially feeds the child on Amrita (the nectar of immortality), instead of on breast milk. So it is said that the child became immortal. However, the child also became desirous of solid food. He went to the cremation grounds ("sudalai") on Kailasa, and began to eat the burning corpses. When he finished those, he began to eat everything around him, the other spirits, the animals, the trees, the ground, etc. He feasted with a heavy appetite.

Because he ate so much, and since he had such a fondness for meat, it was decided that he ought not remain in Kailash. Siva instructed him to go to Earth, and to care for its people. Siva proclaimed that Sudalai Madan's protection and kindness would be re-paid with offerings of cooked food and drink, and thus he would always have a meal, as well as people who would pray to him. So Sudalai Madan came to earth, accompanied by a number of singers and dancers who were sent by Siva to see to his worship.

Worship

Often Sudalai Madan statues are triangular pillar like structure and figured statues are stone carved. He is either in open or under a simple roof. The devotees serve non vegetarian foods to him. Goats, chickens and pigs are sacrificed and served to him. Fridays are optimum for Sudalai Madan. Special poojas are conducted in every last Fridays of Tamil months and yearly once or twice main festivals are conducted for Sudalai Madan. These festivals are called as "Kodai". Kodai is celebrated for one day to many days according to the devotees need. Some famous temples celebrate it for 10 days.

Lots of Sheep sacrificed before God in a temple
Non vegetarian meals served for SudalaiMadan on a temple in Thovalai

On these occasions, the deities are fully decorated with flowers. Some people get possessed on God and devotees talk to God through them. God goes for hunting in cemetery through this spiritually possessed person. Art forms of Thappattai beats, Kaniyan Koothu (Maguda kacheri) and Villupattu are main performances of Sudalai Maadan Kodai festival.

Mystics return with osseous matter from winnowing at a Shmashana.

There is a famous Sudalai Madam deity or a person who perceived the spiritual power of God Sudalai Madan in K.K.nagar,Chennai, India who would directly speak to Sudalai Madam and convey back to the devotees. When there is theft Sudalai Madan will let this deity know and help to find the lost objects.

Sudalai Madan Temple function(Kovil Kodai) is very famously celebrated every year in Avudaiyanoor Near Pavoorchatram, Tenkasi Taluk, Tirunelveli Dist

Outside India

Madan is also popular amongst certain segments of the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Réunion and the French overseas territories in the Caribbean sea.

The 1992 tamil movie Chinna Thayee has a character which is spiritually possessed by this God.

References

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