Pages

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Mariamman Temple, Ooty, Nilgiris

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