After the bath at the Agasthiyar falls, we went further up into the Mundan Thurai reserve forest to the ancient woodland shrine of Sori Muthu Ayyanar Kovil. The temple houses several Dravidian deities such as Sudalai Maadan, Brahmarakshasi Devi, Sangili Karuppan and of course Sori Muthu Ayyanar with his two consorts. These are horrible gods with horrifying features and frightening poses. The ride a variety of vahanas or animals like the tiger, horse, elephant and bull. But, Ayyanar and his warriors are essentially demi-gods who punish evil-doers mercilessly. They are reflections of the primitive societies that conceived their symbolism; primitive societies that believe in punishment as the best deterrent to crime. Ayyanars sitting or standing sword in hand and eyes bulging out are a constant reminder of the dire physical punishments that await transgressions against moral and social codes.
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