I was very much interested in 'grama devathais' or more appropriately called 'Nattar theivangal'. Due to the fact that I grew up worshipping Aiyanar and our gathered, aiyanar worship is worshipping a glorious anscestor who has done something good for the village/town/city which helped. For example, the 'Om Cherma temple' in Eral near Tuticorin. This is on the banks of Tamiraparani and is has a samadhi of Chermakani who saved Eral. Then the temple for 'Arunchunai katha Aiyanar' near Tuticorin. There is no temple I've seen in tamilnadu which has a more beautiful location than this temple. Although the deity is Murugan inside, there is a huge statue of 'Arunchunai katha Aiyanar' in the red sands. I have discussed the story in one of the entries in my blog in Nov-Dec 2005(http://sibipranav.blogspot.com). Then there is the 'Karkuvel Aiyanar', the numerous Sastha temples, the 'Muppanthal amman' in Nagerkoil (you can read a bit of the story in Nanjilnaadan's 'Nanjil naatu vellalar vazhkai'), the pandi koil in Melamadai near Madurai(very near to our house in Madurai). And of course, the mother of all, the Kannagi temple. It is fascinating to read the stories and the reasons for worship. Sometimes, its fear or sometimes respect etc. But inevitably I think its basically a way of worshiping an illustrious anscestor. There is a novel by So.Tharmar called 'Koogai' which talks about the worship of 'Koogaisamy' (blind owl) by the lower castes in villages near Kovilpatti. Born and brought up in Madurai, I lack knowledge about the northern districts that are discussed extensively here. But for me, nothing beats the red sands, palm trees with beautiful ponds, calm beaches and tall Aiyanars who inspire much awe and wonder in the villages from Kovilpatti to Tuticorin to Thiruchendur to Kanyakumari. Infact, me and my wife has dicussed even buying a home in the banks of Tamiraparani near a village called 'Thaneer Panthal'(talk of poetry in names).