Chennai:

Each time Julie Wayne visited an Ayyanar temple with her camera, her viewfinder caught images of a vanishing ritual once prevalent across Tamil Nadu. It was a journey in search of diversity and colour through the rituals of the ancient cult of Ayyanar, the protector god many village dwellers have been honouring for centuries. Terracotta offerings in various sizes and shapes are part of the worship of Ayyanar. Julie has taken almost 12,000 photographs from various Ayyanar temples in her decade-old journey.

A photographer from France, Julie’s interest in a fading cult in Tamil Nadu deserves praise. What attracted Julie to Ayyanar was the illustrious god’s strong connection with the villagers through agriculture, art and craft. The villagers believe that Ayyanar protects them, their cattle and harvest. “Frequently hidden within sacred groves, the open shrines are home to remarkable and fantastic terracotta bestiaries. But there is an interesting story behind this art of pottery,” said Julie.

For each shrine, at the beginning of the summer a meeting takes place among a group of wise men to determine the date of the next festival honouring Ayyanar. “Once the auspicious date is decided, the potters for whom it is the hereditary charge begin to create the various clay effigies ordered by the villagers. These statues manifest the devotees’ request for protection or for the fulfilment of desires, and gratitude for wishes granted,” she said.

The sculptures consist of life-sized horses (Ayyanar’s mount), cows, elephants, dogs and snakes and small human-like figurines that represent the devotees themselves. All of these pieces are modelled, dried, fried, painted and finally decorated during elaborate celebrations, which often last two or three days. “Once the rituals that implore Ayyanar’s grace and give life to the terracotta offerings are completed, the pieces are placed in an outdoor shrine dedicated to the god. There they will stay, gradually worn by the sun and wind. And slowly, they crumble, like things bound to the cycles of nature, once again becoming earth and dust,” said Julie, who has even made a documentary on the potters.

Today, as many potters are busy with commercial terracotta making, many temples don’t get these sculptures. Many Ayyanar temples have dropped the idea of placing terracotta offerings, according to Julie. “Only a few temples follow the ritual these days. This is a dying art. I am happy that I could document it,” she said. A selection of 99 photographs has been exhibited at DakshinaChitra, after being displayed in Delhi, Bangalore and Thanjavur.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /  News Home> City> Chennai / M T Saju, TNN / February 09th, 2016