Description
Thanjavur which was earlier known as Tanjore, is a place that is well known for the South Indian religion, artistry, buildings, engineering, and mostly importantly for the temples in Thanjavur. One such temple in this district is the Punnainallur Mariamman temple. Goddess Mariammanis is adored and admired all over, but especially on a great extent in Tamil Nadu. She is known as deity of rainfall. It is believed by Hindus that throughout the world that Goddess Mariamman is the epitome of motherliness and sacrifice. One who worships this Goddess is said to be showered with prosperity, wellbeing and happiness.
History
In the period of 1676 to 1688 there was a Maratha emperor Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapati who was a great believer of Goddess Mariamman . In 1680 he had been on holy tour to seek the blessings of the Goddess Kaliin Samayapuram. This is when, Goddess Mariamman came in his dreams and communicated that she was in a jungle in Punna trees around a few kilometers away from the village. Maharaja Venkoji without losing time reached the place which was mentioned by the Goddess and found the idol of Goddess Mariamman. Followed by this a temple was built at that place and the idol was established there and was known as the PunnainallurMariamman Temple.
Importance/Significance
Goddess Mariamman is known to be empowered with the supreme powers to cure illnesses or physical problems and also there are many stories which testify this belief.There was once a King named Tulaja Raja in Tanjore who had a daughter. She was suffering from an illness due to which she had lost her ability to see. It is believed that she devotedly worshipped Goddess Mariamman, and pleased with her devotion Goddess cured her eyesight. Also people who suffer with measles come to this temple to get to the disease cured. It is also a custom to place mud models of the parts of the human body as an offering to the Goddess to request her to heal their ailments.
Facts/Mythology
The presiding deity of this temple is Goddess Mariamman, who is also the consort of God Shiva.This temple also enshrines other deities like Vinayaga, Subramaniar, Kodisthampam and Palipeedam. At the outset this temple was in the structure of a white anthill. A well-known sage Sadashiva Brahmendra Swami build up a structure of Mariamman and placed a dynamic Chakra called Srichakram. Hence, there also is a statue of this great saint on the top left. There is a unique fact about this temple, It is said there is extreme heat in the sanctum of the temple during the summer season and the Goddess feels very hot inside there, which is evident as there is sweat on the face and forehead of the Goddess. Thus to lessen the effect of heat water is filled around the sanctum.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
There are various festivities that take place in the temple like ;Floating Festival, (Purattasi month) September –October ; Brahmotsavam (AdiAvani month) August. Navratri and Mahashivratri also celebrated with great pomp and Zeal. Also there are lot of devotees who visit the temple on Sundays and Fridays as these two days are considered very important to worship this Goddess.
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