Villages, especially in Tamil and Telugu regions, will also have a guardian deity: a male deity who protects the village from harms like war or famine or other evils. Unlike the fertility goddess, this deity is worshipped throughout a wide region and has less variety. In northern Tamil Nadu, this deity is called Aiyyanar, while in southern Tamil Nadu, he is known as "sasta". His name in Telugu is Poturaju and is the brother of the presiding goddess in those villages. A common origin myth for "Poturaju" is that he drank the blood of demons slain by "amma". In Tamil Nadu, there are a host of other male deities, such as Karuppusami, who are either attendants to Aiyanar or guardians for the main goddess. Most of these gods are "kuladevatas" for families in the village, especially for dominant castes, who trace it back patrilineally. In this context guardianship has two meanings: either as guardian of devotees or the guardian of a greater village deity, subservient to them.