Gramadevata

Gramadevata (Sanskrit: ग्रामदेवता; "Village deity") is a Sanskrit term for the presiding deity or guardian deity (patron deity) in Hindu villages, towns and cities. It is derived from the words grāma “village” and devatā “deity”. Traditionally Kal Bhairav, a fierce form of Lord Shiva is the Gramadevata in the rural villages of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where he is referred to as Vairavar.