Kathavarayan (KÃÂtaÃÂtavarÃÂya - à ®Âà ®¾à ®¤à ¯Âà ®¤à ®µà ®°à ®¾à ®¯) is a Tamil folk deity venerated in South India and Sri Lanka. His worship is prevalent amongst rural Tamil people, as his worship mostly happens in rural Tamil Nadu. His name is a combination of two names: "kathavar" (protector) and :"ayan" (gift of God). He is believed to have been a real person as Tamil folk deities are those who performed superhuman deeds to protect their community or villages.
Lord Kathavarayan is widely recognized by having a distinct mustache and fearsome appearance. Kathavarayan is commonly depicted wielding weapons of the Tamil warriors of ancient South India: an Aruval, a Khanda (sword), a Sword, a Gada or Shield. He is often illustrated as standing or seated with his two wives, Ariyamala (à ®Âà ®°à ®¿à ®¯à ®®à ®¾à ®²à ®¾) and Otanyi (à ®Âà ®¨à ¯Âà ®¤à ®¾à ®¯à ®¿), as well as one male attendant by the name of Chinnan (à ®Âà ®¿à ®©à ¯Âà ®©à ®¾à ®©à ¯Â).
He is highly revered in Thai Hinduism due to the popularity of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Bangkok. Thai people flock to the temple to pay respects since it was a perfect blend between Tamil and Thai folk culture as seen with practices such as Arul Vaaku tradition (deity possession). Kathavarayan's statue is enshrined in the temple's procession, an important of Vijayadashami traditional event, annually.