A grāmadevatā is the name of the presiding deity or guardian deity (patron deity), usually goddesses, worshipped in villages in India. It is derived from the words grāma village and devatā deity. Most grāmadevatās are village deities who are worshipped solely by inhabitants of their village. Principle Hindu deities such as Shiva and incarnations of Vishnu are also worshipped alongside the grāmadevatās. They are often worshipped in aniconic forms of the earthenware pots or stones.