LAKSHMI NARASIMHA

One of the ten celebrated incarnation of Vishnu. Narasimha is widely worshipped deity in the northern as well as southern parts of India. However the ritual of worship in the celebrated temple at Jaganath Puri (Orisa) identifies the god here as Narasimha. The reason for this incarnation given in puranas is to save the world form the disastrous hold of the demon Hiranya Kasipu, son of Kasayapa – Prajapati and Atiti and more especially to protect Prehalada the deviote of this demon. Hiranya- Kasipas brother Hiranyakasha was killed by Vishnu in this Varaha incarnation and Hiranya kasipu had therefore nurtured hatred for Vishnu. When his son Prahalada grew up as a devotee of Vishnu. The demon naturally threatened his son and subjected him to all kind of trouble punishments. Hiranya Kasipa had preformed penance and obtained from Brahma the boon that he could not be killed by god, man or beast by any weapon known to man. During day or night in side the palace or out side it. So Vishnu had to appear as a man beast (Man – Lion means Narasimha) tears the demons entrails with his clans (which were not weapons) during dusk (which was not day or night) and seated upon the threshold of the palace (which was not in side or out side the palace). The legend further narrate that when Hiranya kasipa challenged his son Prahalad to show Vishnu, when the boy claimed to be every where in one of the pillars of the palace Vishnu revealed himself as the ferocious Man-Lion bursting out of that pillar
When Lakshmi is on the lap of Narasimha is known as Saumya Narasimha or Lakshmi Narasimha.

BHOOTAS

On the west cost of south India villagers worship a large number of spirits. They have corners for them in their houses and small shrines in the village. They make daily offering to the Bhootas and once in a year a festival lasting for one night will be conducted. The sprits will be in personated by certain people wearing gorgeous costumes, make up or mask and high crown or some thing like a hallo.

The areas where the festivals take place in south Kanara where Tulu and Kannada are spoken and further south, in the northern parts of Malabar where Malayalam is spoken. The impersonated spirits are called Bhuta or Daiva. Panchuruli, the pig sprit, the tiger and buffalo sprits as well as various serpent deities belong to the category.

Other Bhutas are Tutelary, Ullaldi, and daiva of Ullale. Malaraya the Butha of ghats. Koti and Chennaraya are two heroes of Tulu people, their were brothers. Bobbaraya and Ummalti are husband and wife. Berme in Tulu nadu is considered to be the chief Bhuta. Haiguli Bhuta of Marankatte in Coondapur, Ali Bhuta of south Kanara. A Bhutastana is there in Mekkekattu in Udippi taluk. There are about 150 wooden idols of various Bhutas in the Nadikeswara temple.

NANDI

Nandi (VRSHABHA) is the vehicle of Shiva is a marvels bull, white in colour, with black horns long ears, raised hung, deep red hooves and dark blue tail. Nandi is the door keeper of Shiva and said to be always stationed in front of Shiva.

NATARAJA

The name given to the dancing form of Shiva meaning the king of dancers. Nataraja thus is identified with the dancers of divine consciousness with in the subtle space of the human heart. Shiva danced to produce the pronominal scene that the dance of Shiva really takes place in the soul of devotee in order to remove his sins and break his fetters, Nataraja is said to symbolize the integration of masculine and feminine aspects of god head he is there fore described as Shiva – Shakti. In terms of five flod function of god head ( PANCHA – KRTYA ) the hand drum in the right hand ( DAMURU ) stand for creation the spreading locks of hair studded with stars stand for preservation, fire on the left palm dissolution, the normal left arm thrown across the chest indicates velling and the normal right hand in gesture of protection shows divine grace, the right leg slightly bent is planted firmly on the back of the draft demon ( APASMARA PURUSHA ) who lies with his belly on the ground but with his head held up. He carries a serpent in his left hand.

DEVI (kerala)

Devi is the mother goddess. The ornamental details in the figure clearly suggest the type as it occurs in late Chera period. This is obvious in the Kathakali pattern of dress and make up.

NATYA – GANAPATHI

One of the thirty two form of Ganapathi. Ganapathi dancing with abandon and excitement under the wish full filling tree (KALPA – VRKSHA) there are numerous icons of this description with different dance postures and caring different weapons. Ganapathi is undoubtedly the most widely worshiped god in India

SITTING PARVATHI

Legend describe the goddess as the daughter of the mountain Himalaya (hence the name Parathion) and the consort of Shiva. She is the mother of Ganapathi and Kartikeya and she is the sister of Vishnu.