What is "gramadevata"

Gramadevata ( Sanskrit: ग्रामदेवता ) (village deity) is a Sanskrit term for the presiding deity or guardian deity ( patron deity) in Hindu villages, towns and cities. It is derived from the words grāma “village” and devatā “deity”. Traditionally Kal Bhairav, a fierce form of Lord Shiva is the Gramadevata in the rural villages of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where he is referred to as Vairavar.