The Goddess of the Meadow in Silambam

சிலம்பில் முல்லைநிலத் தெய்வம்

Abstract

The forest and the areas associated with it are known as the Mullai landscape in classical Tamil tradition. Tolkappiyar identifies Mayon (Vishnu) as the presiding deity of the Mullai region. This is indicated by the phrase “Māyōn mēya kāṭuṟai ulagamum”, which refers to the world inhabited by Mayon in the forest region. Expressions such as “Māyōn eṉṟu uṭkiṟṟu eṉ neñcu” and “Māyōn anna māāl varaikkavān” are also found in Sangam literature. Ilango Adigal refers to Mayon with various names such as Nediyon, Nedumal, Manivannan, Kadalvannan, Thirumal, Kariyavan, Narayana, Mayavan, and Vinnavan. Among these, the terms Kariyavan, Kadalvannan, Manivannan, and Mayavan refer to the colour or appearance of Mayon. In Tamil literary tradition, the colour of Mayon is often compared to dark clouds and the kāyā flower, which are used as poetic similes to describe his complexion.