Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram – History
With
Kannanur as their capital, the Hoysalas under Veesomavaran built this village
and named it as Vikramapuram. He also built Bhojeswaram, a Shiva temple
near Samayapuram. His son Veera Ramanathan’s rule was a golden period for
Samayapuram with grand festivals being conducted and several improvements being
seen at the temple. Later Vijayanagar rulers too contributed to the development
of the temple. Kannanur was called in different names in different periods
of time such as Kannanpuram, Vikramapuram and Mahalipuram. Historians and
researches opine that after the establishment of the temple the rulers of
Vijayanagar regularly worshipped this deity.
It is
stated by historians that only in the period of Vijayaraya Chakravarthy who
held the Kingdom during 1706 – 1732 Mariamman the temple was duly
consecrated. Even though the general belief has been such, historical
records or documents are not available to authenticate all these lores since in
those periods of time, no written record was maintained except
implanting some culverts here and there carrying some information or messages
by the invading armies or the rulers themselves. The Goddess is believed
to have been worshipped by locals even before the construction of this temple,
but those details remain unauthenticated.