Kula Deivam Worship: The 21 Panthi and 63 Senai Tradition - Part I

 

The Vilayuthamudaya Ayyanar temple of Kochadai, Madurai.This temple houses many kula deivams such as Muthiahsamy, Agni Veerabadrar, Karuppayi Amman, Sangilikaruppu, Kaluvadikaruppu, Meiyandi Amman, Nagappasamy, Sannasisamy, Aadipoosari, Pechiamman, Muthukaruppusamy, Irulappasamy, Veeranasamy, Rakkayi Amman, Irulayee Amman, Chappani Karuppu, Sonaisamy, Muniyandisamy and Badrakali Amman.
Image Credit: Tamil Nadu Tourism

The southern districts of Tamil Nadu, preserve a unique system of kula deivam (clan deity) worship known as “21 Panthi, 63 Senai.” In this tradition, the kula deivam of a family is usually one among the deities in the panthi structure. Families that trace their roots to this region often belong to one of these lineages.

A panthi is a cluster of deities led by a chief deity. Different types of panthis exist, such as the Gurunathan Panthi, Ayyanar Panthi and Karuppanasamy Panthi. Each panthi has a presiding deity who is supported by a number of manthiri deivam (minister deities). 

The number of ministers may differ, with some panthis having five while others have seven. Each minister is accompanied by more deities, and together they make up a group of 21 deities that represent 21 family bloodlines of the region. 

A sample Gurunathan Panthi may look like this:

Presiding deity: Gurunathan (Shiva-Dakshinamurthy)

1. Sanggili Karuppar
2. Chinna Karuppar
3. Periya Karuppar
4. Agni Veeran
5. Madurai Veeran
6. Tottiyathuchinnu
7. Ayyanar
8. Muthaiah
9. Lada Sannasi
10. Bhairavar
11. Sudalai Madan
12. Irulappar
13. Sonaiyar
14. Sappani
15. Muniyandi
16. Kaliamman
17. Pechiamman
18. Rakkayiamman
19. Irulayiamman
20. Tottichiamman
21. Karupayiamman

In addition to the panthi deities, there are parivara deivam (attendant deities) that forms the senai. Each panthi deivam will have 3 attendants and their total number across the system is 63. These attendants play an important role in rituals and offerings by serving the 21 kula deivams of the panthi, thus forming the wider circle of the temple’s sacred order.

It is important to note that there are some variations in which deities are included in the panthi, and this differs from place to place . What remains common is the structure of 21 main deities and 63 attendants.

I am currently gathering more detailed information on this system of worship and will share further insights in the future. If you have any information from your ancestral village, feel free to share in the comments section.