I am Not a Hindu...HINDU IS A COLLECTIVE NAME GIVEN BY BRITISHERS TO ALL RELIGIONS IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT.
BEFORE THAT THERE IS NO RELIGION WITH THE NAME "HINDU".
THERE WAS "SAIVISM", THERE WAS "VAISHNAVISM", THERE WAS "SAKTHI" WORSHIP IN SOUTH, THERE WAS "BUDDHISM & JAINISM".
PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH WORSHIPED "SUDALAI MADAN", "MARI AMMAN", "IYYANAR" ETC WHICH IS STILL THE TRADITION WE SOUTH INDIANS FOLLOW.
SINCE ARYANS CANNOT OCCUPY SOUTH INDIA BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE AND VALIANT TAMIL PEOPLE, THEY MADE THESE GODS AS RELATIVES. THEY MADE SHIVA AS RELATIVE TO VISHNU, MARI AS WIFE TO SHIVA & MURUGA AS SON TO SHIVA ETC.
MAKING RELATION WITH "GOD" IS A VERY OFTEN USED APPROACH BY THE VAISHNAVITES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE INVADERS. IF YOU HAVE EVER VISITED TIRUPATHI YOU CAN STILL SEE THE MUSLIM STATUES INSTALLED INSIDE THE PRAHARAM. THEY MARRIED LORD BALAJI TO A MUSLIM WOMEN DEITY.
