எஸ். ராமகிருஷ்ணன் நாவல்களில் சிறுதெய்வங்கள்

Folk deities in S. Ramakrishnan Novels

Abstract

The proverb states, “One should not reside in a village without a temple.” People believe that if good things happen in their lives, it is due to the grace of God, and if bad things occur, they are due to the anger of God. In this way, we can understand that rural people worship folk deities with a sense of faith mixed with fear.

In the beginning, nature worship emerged due to fear of natural forces. Later, as religion developed, forms of worship evolved into the worship of major deities, while the worship of minor (folk) deities continued among rural people. Thus, religious belief developed through various stages. Folk deities are referred to as minor deities. This system includes several types, such as clan deity worship, family deity worship, and village deity worship.

This study is structured to explain the ideas related to the worship of minor deities as presented in the novels of S. Ramakrishnan.