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Besides gods there are other forms of worship. They are :-
Worship
of Spiritual Personages
Places hallowed by the birth or other associations
or evolved souls are held in great veneration. A temple, a mound or a
monument is erected at these spots. A tree in Nerur near
Karur on the banks of the Cauvery, where Sadasiva Brahmendra
gave up his mortal remains. Thiuvamur in South Arcot district,
the Birth place of saint appear, Tiruchuzhail and Tiruvannamalai, the
place of the birth and the Ashram of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Sri Perumpudur associated with the birth of Sri Ramanuja are instances of
places held in reverence . Wayside stones are installed to perpetuate munis or
ascetics to invoke their blessings, new - born babies are named Munian,
Munuswamy and Muniyandi.
Great poets and scholars too are honoured by
erection of monuments . The memory of Thiruvalluvar is commemorated by a
small temple on the out skirts of Mylapore that of the poet Kamban
by a samadhi at Nattarasam Kottai . Earth from around this mound is
applied to the forehead of children, before their initiation to
letters in order to assure academic success.
Ancestor- Worship
Observation of the annual days of departed souls and
reverence paid to the articles of worship of forefathers are
highlights of life in many families.
The place where the Shaivite and Vaishnavite saints and
philosophers were born or their bodily remains are interred are
never missed in pilgrimages. It is customary for the devotees to
visit each one of the temples sung by them . These are located in
the sea coast and islands, in hills, on river banks and remote areas.
Tamil folklore on spiritual personages is founded on
the bed rock of universalism and nationalism.
Worship of Implements
On Saraswathi puja or Kalaimagal day, the last day of Navarathri
held in September or October, books and other tools of learning,
mechanical contrivances such as auto-parts, lathes, type writers and ploughs
are worshipped. Sandal wood -paste is smeared over them .Camphor is lit
in front of them and prayer is offered .
Demon Worship
Rural folk pay homage to demons to avert their displeasure
worship also extends to the deities which rule the demons in order to induce
their intervention. The disembodied spirits of human beings
who have met with a violent or sudden death by accident or murder are supposed
to be capable of evil. They are believed to live in the trees and
even to wander hither and thither. So an area is unbuilt in house-sites
as passage of demons when houses are constructed adjoining the
temples of goddess. Sometimes the demons are said to be occupy the body of
a man or a young girl during puberty and all he or she does is said
to be hand work of the demon.
The
Visitations of a demon are said to cause death among cattle. Tradition demands that blood be spilt for appeasement and living animals are
included in the offering .
The places in which demons are worshipped are
pay-koils or temples of demons. These devil temples are puny structures resembling
tombs or mounds of earth in pyramidal shape, near a large tree,
which is supposed to be the abode of demons.
In these temples,
anyone
may assume the role of a priest when he is overcome by emotion or
impulse and dance as a devil. The devil dancing person is adored and sacred ash
accepted from him with great reverence solemnity and above all
fear.
Veneration of Gurukkals
Gurukkals,
Sivacharyas,
Adhi shaivites or Odhuvars are
temple priests referred to the Tamil classics. These traditional
priests are scholars well -versed in temple -lore, rituals relating to
worship art and literature . They have hereditary privilages and duties. Their
rights include that of touching the idol thrice a day during the services.
Worship of Heroes and Warriors
The memory of warriors and historic personages who
have carved for themselves a niche in the hearts of the people is
perpetuated in ballads besides monuments. The most famous
ballad is about 'Desingu Rajan' of Gingee in south Arcot district
who built two fortresses and died in the 17th century fighting against a
Muslim prince. Similarly Panchalankurichi Veerapandya Kattabomman Kathaigal
keep alive the memory of Kattabomman, an early freedom fighter
Mythological heroes are also worshipped Madurai
veeran, a vassal of the Pandyas is supposed to have saved the
lives of many persons in heroic struggles, and is almost a demigod
in Madurai . At the festival held in his honour, villuppattu is sung about his
times.
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