Samayapuram Mariamman Temple

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple
Name
Proper name Samayapuram Mariamman Koil
Geography
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
Location Samayapuram
Culture
Primary deity Mariamman
Architecture
Architectural styles South Indian, Kovil

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is a Hindu temple in Samayapuram near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India. The main deity, Samayapurathal or Mariamman is made of sand and clay like many of the traditional Mariamman deities, and hence unlike many other Hindu deities there are no abhishekams (sacred washing) conducted to the main deity, but instead the "abishekam" is done to the small stone statue in front of it.

It is believed by the devotees that the Goddess has enormous powers over curing illnesses[1] and hence, it is a ritual to buy small metallic replicas, made with silver or steel, of various body parts that need to be cured, and these are deposited in the donation box.

Devotees also offer mavilakku, (Tamil - மாவிளக்கு) a sweet dish made of jaggery, rice flour and ghee. [2] Offerings of raw salt is also made to the Goddess by the rural devotees.

The temple attracts thousands of devotees on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, the holy days for Mariamman. Samayapuram is the second most wealthy (in terms of cash flows) temple in Tamil Nadu after Palani.

History

History of the temple is unclear. In the early 18th century, King Vijayaraya Chakkaravarthi built the present day form of the temple.[3] There is scant history of the period before that though it is believed that the locals worship the Goddess for many centuries before building the current temple. One legend says that the present deity was at the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam, and one of chief priests of the temple believed that the idol caused him illness and hence asked it to be removed from the temple. It is a common belief in that part of the region that such local Gods have immense powers and they must always be satisfied by proper offerings and sacrifices. The idol was moved outside Srirangam, and later found by some of the passerby who built a temple named, the Kannanur Mariamman temple.

During that period (around the 17th century CE), Trichi was ruled by the Vijayanagar kings and the area was used as an army base. It is believed that they made a commitment to build the temple if they win the war and after attaining success they built a shrine for the Goddess. Originally it was under the management of the Thiruvanaikaval temple, a popular one in the region. Later, the control was split and currently Samayapuram is under an independent trust monitored by the Government of Tamil Nadu, which also monitors the annadanam distribution (an act of offering food to the devotees).[4]

Festivals

Significance of the temple

Samayapuram is a significant symbol of the native culture in rural Tamil Nadu and there a number of unique practices concerning the Mariamman temples. Samayapuram has been used a model to describe rural folklore in a number of research works on sociology and religion.[6][7][8]

During festivals, it is not unusual to find people doing extreme things to make their bodies suffer as an act of sacrifice including, walking over a red-hot bed of charcoal and holding hot mud-vessel in bare hands. Mariamman temples also typically involve Samiyattam wherein through a devotee (usually a female) Goddess Mariamman chooses to talk to help and bless the gathered devotees. The personality of the Goddess as well as the tremendes strain put on the body by the channelling (both physically and emotionally), maybe interpreted by non-believers as hysteria or hyper-excitement.[6][7]

Heritage of Samayapuram outside India

The legacy of Samayapuram is well spread beyond Tamil Nadu and even after centuries of emigrating from India, many people in Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Africa and Fiji still maintain their loyalties to the temple and try to create similar temples and environment in their new country, raising both a cause of concern and an appreciation of diversity.There is also a Samayapuram Mariamman Temple in Tanjong Rambutan at Malaysia.There is also a shrine for Goddess Sri Samayapuram Mariamman at the Sri Veeramuthu Muneeswarar Temple which is located at Yishun Industrial Park,Singapore. During the month of Aadi,the annual Kozh Valarpu festival is conducted with much granduer by the Sri Samayapuram Mariamman Pillaigal at Jurong West,Singapore.[8][9]

Chithirai Ther Thiruvila (Chariot Festival in the month of Chithirai --- April)

Samayapuram is located 15 km from Tiruchirappalli on the National Highway (NH-45) which is now a 4 Lane Road from Chennai to Tiruchirappalli.

Here, at Samayapuram, the Chithirai Chariot Festival is celebrated for a period of 13 days. The Festival Starts on the 1st Tuesday of the month “Chithirai”. The Chariot Festival will be on the 10th day of the Festival. The Chariot (Car) with Goddess Samayapuram Mariamman will be pulled by devotees around the Temple. It is a Maha Festival --- Grand Festival, which attracts Lakhs of Devotees.

Arrangement during the Chariot Festival

During the Chariot Festival, no vehicle is allowed to go inside SamayaPuram Town and all the vehicles are stopped one Kilometer away from the Town and everybody have to go to the temple by walk.

The Crowd is so much, though the Government made so many arrangements, still it is un-manageable. Luckily for Devotees, nowadays, they are following the traffic rule of left side walking in the road. This helps a lot for the smooth movement, which avoids any complications associated with big crowds. Still you will find that so many children missing, which is being announced during the festival time in the loud speakers.

During the Chariot Festival time, the Local Government arranges a ‘’’Special Bus Stand’’’, which is one Kilometer away from the SamayaPuram Town. All the Buses and any other 2 / 3 / 4 wheelers are stopped there only. The vehicles which are going beyond Samayapuram in NH-45 will only be allowed with a little bit delay.

The 4 laning of the National Highway 45 has helped to ease traffic congestion to a considerable extent. Onward traffic can take the flyover, while those going to Samayapuram for Darshan can take the Service Lane which leads to the Temple.

For festival days, during the Chithirai Chariot Festivals, there are 24 hours bus services to nearby places like, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Thuraiyur, Thanjavur and other nearby Small Towns. Further, there are continuous Town Bus Services provided which mainly connect to Tollgate (Salem-Trichy main road junction), Chatram Bus Stand and Central Bus Stand.

During the Festival days we can see that, the Tamil Nadu Police, NCC, Scout (School and College Students) Controlling the Crowd every where including the Temple premises.

Mother of all Mothers --- The Goddess Shiva Sakti ---Samayapurathal is so Powerful to fulfill the Prarthanas of Devotees. In very few temples, you can see the presiding deity from the entrance of the temple. Yes, Samayapurathu Mariyamman is visible from the Main Entrance of the Temple and it will look like that the mother is waiting for your arrival.

References

  1. ↑ "South Indian temples".
  2. ↑ "Facts about Samayapuram".
  3. ↑ "Chennai Online's article on Samayapuram".
  4. ↑ "Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department".
  5. ↑ "Tamil Nadu government's tourism page on Samayapuram".
  6. 1 2 "Taming the fever goddess" (PDF).
  7. 1 2 "A Temple Festival of Mariyamman".
  8. 1 2 "Bringing back the 'old ways': Remembering and re-installing a 'local' Hindu goddess in urban Singapore" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Mariamman temple at Durban".
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