Original language term required: Rare male instances of deities that fit this classification include Aiyanar and Dharmathakur who are respectively venerated in South India and West Bengal. For 10 points each:
[10h] What term denotes various typically female Indian village deities who protect their communities from calamity, as opposed to the kuladevata who focus on the household?
ANSWER: grāmadevatā [or gramdevata]
[10e] The Tamil honorifics “amma” or “ammai,” which translate to this word, are sometimes given to gramadevata who protect against plague like Mariamman and Corona Mai. Earth deities described as this word’s “goddesses” include Prithvi and Gaia.
ANSWER: mother [accept mother Earth]
[10m] Historically, Mariamman has primarily been invoked to ward off this disease, the cause of her disfigured appearance. The orisha Obaluaiye, or Shapona, wears raffia garments to hide the scars formed by this illness.
ANSWER: smallpox [accept chechak and sitala; accept variola]
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