Mariamman Temple, Ooty,
Nilgiris
Mariamman Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Hindu Goddess
of Rain located in Ooty Town in Ooty Taluk of Nilgiris District
of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located near the market in Ooty Hill
Station. Mariamman,
the mother Goddess is widely considered
to be a form of the goddess Kali. Mariamman is
also referred to as Seethala Gowri or Mahamaayi.
Legends
According to legend, Every
Tuesday merchants from Coimbatore came to this region to trade with the local
tribals. On one of this day, two sisters travelling from north reached market.
They had divine look and manner. When they asked for a place to stay, they were
told to stay under a nearby tree. They did not know that the sisters were
Goddesses. A lightning or flash of light appeared near the tree and the sisters
disappeared.
On seeing this, people
understood that the sisters were divine forms and built a temple for Goddess
Kaliamman and Mariamman together. It is the Mariamman temple seen today. It is
the only place where both goddess are seen together. Even today people gather
at market on Tuesday and worship Goddess Mariamman on their way returning from
market.
The Temple
The Temple is facing east with
five tiered Rajagopuram. There are two presiding deities in the sanctum. They
are called as Maha Mariamman and Maha Kaliamman. Navagrahas, the nine planets,
grace in the temple with their consorts. Mother Durga represents three powers
(shakti or energy) called Itcha Sakti, Gnana Sakti and Kriya Sakti. There are
three deities in the temple representing each of these powers in the form of
Mari, Kali and Katteri and this is a rare type in a single temple. Kali, though
described furious, is very calm and smiling in the temple. Theertham associated
with this Temple is Amirtha Pushkarini.
Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from
6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Festivals
The 28-day car festival during
the whole of February month is the longest and biggest festival of the temple.
Mother Aadhi Parashakti comes in procession in different forms as Durga,
Kamakshi, Parvathi, Meenakshi, Rajarajeswari, Heddhai Amman and Bhagavathi.
Crowd would be in lakhs. During the car procession, devotees throw salt on the
deity in the hope that all their hardships would go off as salt disappears in
water.
The temple would be full of
devotees on new moon days, Fridays in the month of Aadi (July-August), Navaratri
days in Purattasi (September-October) and other days of religious importance.
One of the important events in the festival includes devotees walking barefoot
over burning coal to show their devotion to the goddess. The devotees also make
oil lamps from grounded rice and offer them to the goddess.
Prayers
Those infected by small-pox and
other illness, handicapped, impaired vision pray to Mother Mariamman. The also
seek boons of marriage and child. Realizing their wishes, devotees offer a
chicken and black sari to the Goddess. A thread called Mudikayiru prepared with
Mantras in the Katteri Amman shrine is believed to protect the devotee from
evil looks, illness, magic spells, witchcraft effects etc. This is mostly used
to protect children. Women wear it for child boon. The thread is also used to
protect cattle. They also offer toy cars, throw salt, cradles, light lamps and
feed the poor besides usual abishek and pujas.
Contact
Sandhaikadai Mariamman Temple,
Ooty – 643 001,
Nilgiris District
Phone: +91 423 244 2754
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 1.5
Kms from Ooty, 1 Km from Ooty Bus Stand, 1 Km from Ooty Railway Station, 19 Kms
from Coonoor, 29 Kms from Kotagiri, 50 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station,
84 Kms from Coimbatore and 87 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Ooty is well
connected to Coimbatore, Kerala and Karnataka.
Location
