Ayyanaar-The protector

Ayyanaar
Ayyanaar is a village diety worshipped in Tamilnadu and Sri Lanka.
"Ayyanaar" is derived from the word Ayya, which denotes repect.
While travelling along the countryside, one can see majestic statues of Ayyanaar.
He is a deity with the characteristic big moustache, riding a horse, elephant or an ox.
Ayyanaar statues may not even be installed inside a temple-they are often found in open air.
He can be seen seated in a magnificient pose at the boundaries of villages, and is the "Kaaval Deivam" or guardian God who protects the village members.

He symbolises righteousness and important decisions pertaining to the village are taken in front of Him.
Thus you can see Ayyanaar featuring in many a Tamil film having a story set in a village.

In rural areas, where family bonds are very strong, festivals bring together people to the Ayyanaar temple, even if they have gone to far off places in search of a livelihood, especially during the Karthika masa (Oct-Nov month).

It is interesting to note that the Sinhalese worship Ayyanaar (as Ayyanayake).
More prominently, in Kerala and other places, He is worshipped as Ayyappan, though His appearance is very much different as Ayyappan.
The Sabarimala Ayyapa temple is world famous, and devotees throng this place, especially during the Karthika Masa.

Ayyanaar/Ayyappan is called DharmaShaasta, meaning the teacher of Dharma-that pretty much explains the imposing image of Him holding the sickle-
Be righteous, I will protect you from harm.

This is the simple concept which makes the rural folk approach life in a very straightforward way-They may not understand modern judicial law or politics, but understand Dharma very well!