I have also noticed that some Brahmin Families have Village Deities , like the one for Vana Durga near Tiruvarur.
My mother used to take us for th Tonsuring of the head to Andavar Koil near Manapparai after visiting Palani in Tamil Nadu.
I am intrigued.
These Deities are not Vedic Deities,
How come these are worshiped in Brahmin Households when Brahmins are basically Vaidikas, those who follow the Vedas?
Vedas do not advocate Temple Worship or Collective/Public Worship.
It does not mention Temples at all.
Yet Hinduism has many Gods and Temples.
For an explanation please read my post God has Name and Form, Yes and No, as entering this topic will take us away from the present post.
Every family, by custom, has a Family Deity குல தெய்வம்
Any auspicious function should be preceded by a Pooja first to this Deity.
It is mandatory to visit the Temple of the Deity, at least once a year.
Customs vary with regard to the Poojas being performed for the Deity.
Some times it happens(which should not), the children are not informed of the Family Deity by the Elders.
As a Result. the generation remains ignorant of the Deity.
In such cases, one can ask Family elders who are still alive.
If this attempt fails, check the names of your ancestors on your Father's( for men only) side., for minimum three generations.
The family custom is to name the first child of the Family after the Family Deity.
If the Family Deity is a Female, and the eldest of the Family is a Male, check if a female name is given for a male , as in Kamakshi (and for Female the reverse).
And that will be your Family Deity.
The most common name will be your Family Deity.
Otherwise continue The present Deity( of which you are unsure) and if a Saivaite have Subramanya as an additional Family Deity and if a Vaishnavaite, have Lord Balaji of Tirupati.
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