The South Indian village is a charming expression of radical simplicity, a life deeply attuned to nature. Every morning, the women rise before dawn to bathe themselves and clean their homes, usually kitchen first, and perform their morning prayers. Next they sweep the porch clean and moisten it with water or cow dung in order to decorate it with powerful cosmological diagrams (kolams) to invite good fortune and ward off negative influences.

To the right, you see such an ant hill decorated with fabric. It is actually a snake mound with a living cobra that makes its dwelling here. Many Hindus worship snakes that are perceived as symbols of spiritual consciousness. They are associated with both Shiva as well as Vishnu. Snakes were once worshipped as fertility gods and goddesses. Each day, milk and eggs are offered to the snake deity in the mound. Sometimes such mounds are located in the backyards of people's homes. In a village like this, a complete temple structure has been built around the serpent's dwelling. Rituals are conducted on a daily basis to stay in right relationship with this ancient village deity.

Every village has its own temple that houses its grama devata, or village deity. Usually located at the corner of the main street, this temple is kept alive with worship at auspicious hours of the day. Brahmin priests, who live down the street, take turns at caring for the shrine and the many rituals that take place for every occasion throughout the year.

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