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Friday, February 23, 2018

Aadhi Mariamman Temple, Inam Samayapuram, Trichy

Aadhi Mariamman Temple, Inam Samayapuram, Trichy
Aadhi Mariamman Temple is a Hindu Temple located at Inam Samayapuram in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is considered as the birth place of Samayapuram Mariamman, located at about 1.5 Kms from the present Samayapuram Temple. The deity still exists here too called as Adhi Mariamman. Samayam in Tamil means Time. The deity graces her devotees in time, hence praised as Samayapuram Mariamman.


Legends
According to a legend, the current deity was initially at the famous Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam. When one of that temple’s chief priests believed that the idol caused illness in him, he is said to have ordered for its removal from the temple. There was a common belief of the people from that in region that such local Gods possess immense powers and so must always be appeased by making appropriate offerings and sacrifices. Thus, the idol was moved out of the Srirangam town, and was later identified by some of the by passers, who is said to have built a temple for this deity called the Kannanur Mariamman temple. Sometime around the 17th century CE, the region surrounding Trichy is said to have been ruled by the Vijayanagar kings who used the area primarily as an army base. It is believed that the Vijayanagara ruler vowed to build a temple for his goddess if they get to win the war. And accordingly, they built this temple on tasting success.
History
The actual history behind the temple’s origin remains unclear. The present temple structures were constructed during the early 18th century by King Vijayaraya Chakravarthy. The Goddess is believed to have been worshipped by locals even before the construction of this temple, but those details remain unauthenticated.


The Temple
The principal deity, Goddess Mariamman, also called popularly as Goddess Samayapurathal. The main deity’s idol is made up of sand and clay and thus the ritual of abhisheka is not performed to the Moolavar, (main idol) unlike many other Hindu deities. Instead abisheka is performed to a small secondary Vigraha that is carved out of stone. This Vigraha is placed in front of the main idol. Adhi Mariamman graces the devotees with her four hands. The sanctum sanctorum faces S. Kannanore in the South is a noteworthy feature.


This temple should be visited before you visit the main Samayapuram Mariamman of Kannanore. The management of this temple was initially under the control of the Thiruvanaikaval temple, another popular shrine in the region. Later, the control was split and presently this Samayapuram Mariamman temple is under an independent trust which is under the Government of Tamil Nadu. The trust also oversees the temple’s Annadhanam scheme (an act of offering food to the devotees).


Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Pooja Timings
The following are the list of poojas offered at the temple;
S. No
Pooja
Time
1
Ushat Kaalam
06.00 A.M
2
Kaala Santhi
08:00 A.M
3
Uchi Kaalam
12:00 A.M
4
Sayaratchai (1st)
06.00 P.M
5
Sayaratchai (2nd)
08.00 P.M
6
Artha Jamam
09.00 P.M
7
Thanga Ther
07.00 P.M
Festivals
Poochoridal (showering of flowers) in the month of Thai (January-February), Masi Thiruvizha in February-March, Vijayadasami in September-October are the festivals very devotionally celebrated in the temple. As a recalling of an earlier festival of S. Kannanore Mariamman invited to Kollidam-Cauvery River, a ritual of inviting Samayapuram Adhi Mariamman here on the first Sunday of Chithirai month (April-May) is being followed now also where the deity stays for a night and return back.
Prayers
Those awaiting marriages worship Nagakanni and tie the yellow thread submitted to the deity on the Neem tree here. The worship expedites marriage processes. Those seeking child boon tie a small wooden cradle on the tree. Devotees worship the Goddess on New Moon and Full Moon days and stay in the temple to get their ambitions realized. Devotees perform abishek to the Goddess on realizing their boons. Goddess Samayapurathal is believed to grant all the wishes of her devotees. After offering prayers to the goddess, many devotees volunteer to stay and serve the temple, as a thanks giving to the deity for curing them from small pox. People who are disabled and vision impaired, pray the divine Mother for getting relieved from their disabilities. People also offer prayers to the deity seeking good agricultural yields and business development.
Devotees undertake to Tonsure their heads and offer Archanas and Abishek as a way of showing gratitude to the deity. Ear boring ritual is also done here. Devotees also perform the ritual of pulling the golden chariot, carrying fire pots, performing the angapradakshina (rolling over the temple precinct), etc. They also worship the goddess offering sugarcane cradles, alighting lamps made from flour and ghee during Thaipoosam, donating paddy, grains, sheep, cocks as their prayer commitment. They also arrange for ritual of Annadhaana which involves feeding the poor. Mavilakku is a sweet dish which is made from mixing jaggery, rice flour and ghee. This Mavilakku is offered to the goddess as an important offering. Raw salt is also offered to the deity by the natives.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1.5 kms North East of Samayapuram main Mariamman Temple, 2 Kms from Samayapuram New Bus Stand, 1 Km from Samayapuram Temple Old Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Manachanallur, 13 Kms from Thiruvellarai, 13 Kms from Thiruppainjeeli, 13 Kms from Pachur, 12 Kms from Srirangam, 10 Kms from Thiruvanaikoil and 17 Kms from Trichy. The temple lies just on the Trichy – Chennai highways, with frequently available state and town bus services and is well connected to Trichy. Nearest Railway Stations are located at Pichandar kovil (10 Kms) and Trichy (21 Kms). Nearest Airport is located at Trichy (22 Kms).