Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, Thanjavur
Punnai Nallur Mariamman temple is a Hindu temple located at Thanjavur in the state of Tamil
Nadu, India. The temple of goddess Mariamman is one of the famous temples around Thanjavur
District. There is an important temple at Punnai nallur, 6 miles from Tanjore,
dedicated to Mariamman.
The Sthala- Puranam states that, before waging a war
with the demon Tanja of Tanjore, Lore Siva stationed the Ashta Saktis (eight
powers) one at each of the eight directions, and the one stationed at the
eastern direction is now the presiding deity of this temple.
Goddess Mariamman, a manifestation of Shakti, was
worshipped here in the form of an anthill for a long time. It was only in
the 18th century that a temple was built here. The seven-tiered gopuram came up
recently. It is still maintained by the descendants of the royal family of
Thanjavur.
The goddess is also called Muthu Mariamman because drops
of moisture, like pearls (Tamil: pearls - Muthu) appear on the face and head of
the granite statue from time to time.
Legends
Lord Shiva waging Battle with Tanjan Asuran:
Once Lord Shiva had to wage a battle against a demon
called Tanjan Asuran. The story goes that before waging the war, Shiva
installed one of the Ashta Shaktis (eight goddesses) in each of the eight
directions. It is said that the Shakti installed in the eastern direction is
now called Punnainallur Mariamman.
Venkoji dream on pilgrimage to Samayapuram:
The Maratha King Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapathi was a
devotee of Mariamman. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to Tiruchirapalli to
visit the other powerful village goddess called Samayapuram Mariamman. On his
way he rested under the shade of a tree. Suddenly in his dream Mariamman showed
up and told him that she could be found in a forest of Punnai trees about three
miles from Thanjavur. The King rushed to that spot and he saw a Puttru or a
white anthill. Over this anthill he built the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple’s
present structure.
The Maratha rulers Thulaja and Serfoji also worshiped
here and renovated the temple during their rule. It is said that the daughter
of Tulaja Raja (1729-35) of Thanjavur lost her eyesight in an illness and
regained it after offering worship at this temple. The Mariamman Temple is
still maintained by the descendants of the royal family of Thanjavur.
History
In the year 1680, when the Maharashtra king Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapatti (1676–1688) of
Tanjore was on a pilgrimage at Samayapuram, where there is a famous temple
dedicated to Kali, Mariamman appeared to the King in his dream and told him
-that she (the idol) was in a forest of Punnai trees at a distance of about 3
miles from Tanjore. The King lost no time in rushing to the spot indicated to
him and recovered the idol from the jungle.
A temple was constructed at the place and the idol
installed and so the deity of this temple is known as Punnainallur Mariamman.
It is said that the daughter of Tulaja Raja (1729–35) of Tanjore, who lost her
eyesight in an illness, regained it on offering worship at this temple.
Originally the Amman was in the form of white-ant hill (Puttru).
The Great saint Sadhasiva Brahmendra swamy shaped the white-ant hill (Puttru)
into a form of Mariamman and also installed a powerful Chakra.
The kings who ruled Tanjore took great interest in the
development of the temple and they vied with one another in constructing
gopurams, mandapams, entrances etc., to the temple. There is a holy tank and
the 'floating festival' takes place every year in the month' of Purattasi
September-October). Brahmotsavam takes place in the months of Adi-Avani
(August-September).
Sundays are considered to be the most auspicious days
for worshipping the Goddess, when huge crowds mainly consisting of womenfolk
and children pay their homage.
Significance
The goddess cures her devotees of all physical ailments.
A charismatic yet considerate form is seen here. Mud replicas of the different
parts of the human body are placed in the temple as offering and pleading the
mother for cure. This temple was constructed at the place and the idol
installed and so the deity of this temple is known as Punnainallur Mariamman.
It is said that the daughter of Tulaja Raja (1729-35) of Tanjore, who lost her
eyesight in an illness, regained it on offering worship at this temple.
Removes fear in Children:
Pechchi Amman is believed to protect children who cry in
fear of certain things and is said to have the power to remove those fears in
Children, if one offered his/her sincere prayers to the Goddess
Removes Chicken Pox/ Diseases/ health issues:
Devotees who come here and offer their prayers for one
week are said to be liberated from all kinds of health issues if they drink the
milk offered during the four poojas that take place every day.
The Temple
In the first half of the 18th Century, King Thulaja is
believed to have constructed a small temple with a single prakara for Goddess
Ambigai at the place where the pit was located.
Between 1798 AD and 1832 AD, King Sarabhoji II
constructed the Maha Mandapa, Narthana Mandapa, the tall front temple tower and
the 2nd Prakara. Subsequently, a third prakara and the outer walls were
constructed.
The temple was fully renovated a couple of years back
and sports a new fresh look. The main entrance of Punnainallur Mariamman
Temple features a recently built Rajagopuram (temple tower) with seven tiers.
The Dhwajasthambham (flag pole) and the Balipeedam
(platform for food offerings) are in the first praharam (enclosure). This area
also contains Naga deities (the snake gods) and a Vasantha Mandapam (hall).
As Punnainallur Mariamman is a self-manifested natural
phenomenon, the famous sage, Sadhasiva Brahmendrar, a saint and composer of
Carnatic music in Sanskrit and an Advaita philosopher from the 18th century,
visited this temple. He installed the sacred symbol called Srichakram and
shaped a face of Mariamman over the Puttru (anthill). Therefore, no Abhishekam
(ablution) is performed on the image.
Instead the goddess’s image is coated with punugu - the
oily, perfumed secretion of the civet cat. People pay special fees to see
Mariamman adorned in a golden pavadai (long skirt) and blouse. The skirt, that
is beautifully pleated and etched as if it were made of fabric, is a truly
magnificent piece of adornment.
The Abhishekam is performed to the Utsavar Murthy (processional
deity), called Vishnu Durgai, near the sanctum. Once in five years
Thailabishekam (punugu sattam or application) is performed for 48 days over the
Puttru. During this ritual period, devotees can pay respects only to a curtain
drawn in front of the goddess with an image of Amman featured on it.
During summer, you can see little drops of
water—sweat—on the face and forehead of Mariamman. Water is filled in the area
around the goddess’s image to reduce the heat in the sanctum.
Other deities like Vinayaka (Ganesha the elephant-headed
god) and his brother Subrahmanya/ Muruga can be seen in the Punnainallur
Mariamman Temple in their own little shrines. An image of Sage Sadhasiva
Brahmendrar is also placed inside the main temple. To the left of the sanctum
there is a shrine for Peechhi (Pechchi) Amman, a form of Rajarajeshwari
(Parvathi) and another village goddess.
The goddess cures her devotees of all physical ailments.
A charismatic yet considerate form is seen here. Mud replicas of the different
parts of the human body are placed in the temple as an offering and pleading
the mother for cure.
Inside the mandapam there are depictions of the different
forms of Ashta Sakti as listed below;
1. Gaja Lakshmi
2. Veera Lakshmi
3. Soubhagya Lakshmi
4. Santana Lakshmi
5. Dhana Lakshmi
6. Dhanya Lakshmi
7. Vidya Lakshmi
8. Karunya Lakshmi
Muthu Mariamman sweats in summer:
An interesting feature of Mariamman at this temple is
that she is seen sweating during the summer months and this is said to
disappear on its own after sometime. Hence, she is referred to as Muthu
Mariamman.
Festivals
In general all Fridays are special; in particular the Fridays
of the Tamil month Aadi will be more special. Devotees throng the temple in
August/September, the season which relates a lot with this goddess. Sundays are
considered to be the most auspicious days for worshipping the Goddess, when
huge crowds mainly consisting of womenfolk and children pay their homage.
In the month of ‘Purattasi’ (September-October)
the Floating Festival (Theppam) takes place in the holy tank located at
the temple. Brahmotsavam takes place in the months of ‘Adi-Avani’ (August). Navarathri,
Mahasivarathri are the famous festivals celebrated here.
Brahmotsavam:
Brahmotsavam, the main festival of the Punnainallur
Mariamman is celebrated in Adi (July-August). In this month there is a special
procession of Muthu Mariamman in a highly decorated pearl palanquin.
Chariot Festival:
The Car/Chariot Festival takes place on the last Sunday
of Aavani (August-September).
Theppam or Tank Festival:
In Purattasi (September-October) the Theppam or Float
Festival is performed in the holy tank of the temple. A floating structure
carries the image of the goddess and is lit brilliantly with many lamps. As it
moves across the waters, it creates a heavenly spectacle.
Rituals:
There is no daily Abhishekam for the Goddess Mariamman
in this temple. Once in five years, Goddess Mariamman is anointed with a Thailabishekam
(oil application continuously for 48 days). During this period, it is believed
that her powers increase manifold and she is offered coconut water and curds
(yoghurt) to cool her down.
Prayers
Pechchi Amman is believed to protect and remove the fear
of children who cry at imaginary things. People suffering from eye problems
offer worship to Mariamman.
Punnainallur Mariamman Temple is popular with devotees
who seek cures for skin problems. They come here to pray for relief from
measles, chicken pox and skin sores.
Devotees come here and offer their prayers for one week
to be healed from all kinds of illnesses. They drink the milk offered during
the four poojas performed to the goddess every day. People pay special fees to
see Mariamman adorned in a golden pavadai (long skirt) and blouse.
Contact
Arulmigu Punnainallur Mariamman Kovil
Mariamman koil (P.O)
Punnainallur, Thanjavur District
Tamilnadu, India
Phone: 04362-267740.
Connectivity
This temple located in Punnai Nallur, which is popularly
known as Mariamman Kovil, Thanjavur and it is 5 km from Thanjavur Old Bus
stand.
By Air:
The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy),
58-km away.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is at Thanjavur, which is
directly connected by rail to Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Chennai. Auto from
Railway Station to Mariamman temple will cost Rs. 75-100. There is also a
Mariamman koil railway station on the Thanjavur- Thiruvarur Rail route but this
is a little far from the temple.
By Road:
Tourists can access Punnainallur by road from Thanjavur,
which is just 6 miles away. Regular government bus services are available from
Thanjavur.
Buses (towards Ammapet/ Nagapattinam) are available for every
15minutes from old bus stand/Railway Station. Also, mini buses ply between old
bus stand and Mariamman temple.