The only temple in the world, where the Goddess herself undergoes fasting for the welfare of mankind

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is a very famous Hindu temple in Samayapuram located at the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli city. The main deity, Samayapurathal (Mariamman), a form of supreme mother goddess Durga or Maha Kali or Aadi Shakthi, is made of sand and clay and hence unlike many other Hindu deities there are no abhishekams (sacred bathing) conducted to the main deity, but instead the abishekam is done to the small stone statue in front of main deity.

Samayapuram is a significant symbol of the native Tamil culture. There are a number of unique practices concerning the Mariamman temples in Tamilnadu. Samayapuram has been used a model to describe rural folklore in a number of researches on sociology and religion. Interestingly Samayapuram Mariyamman temple is the second highest earning temple in Tamilnadu after Palani Dhandayudhabani Temple.

Samayapuram Sri Mariamman is a much-adored deity but unfortunately, the historicity of the shrine and its divinity could not be traced in the absence of any inscriptions in the temple or elsewhere so far. Though empirically the antiquity of the Samaypuram temple or its principal deity could not be established, the mythological belief gives a free run to several theories. The Bhagavatha Purana says Shakti is the celebrated sister power of Sri Krishna, having born as Maayadevi or Mahamaaya to Yashoda and Nanda of Gokulam. Interestingly the ancient name of Samayapuram is Kannapuram and Samayapuram is situated very close to Srirangam.

Yet another legend points to the relationship between the Mahakali, worshipped fervently by the famed King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, and the Mariamman here at Samayapuram. It is important to note here that not far off to Samayapuram is the place Maahalikudi where the Ujjaiani Om Kaliamman temple is located. There one could see a slew of subjects, like statues for Kali, and Vedhal associated with the legend of King Vikramaditya.

There are also stories that the Urchavar idol of Mariamman in this temple was once adored by the Vijayanagar emperors and after their downfall, was brought to the present day Samayapuram in Tamil Nadu in an ivory palanquin. Later, the Nayak king Sri Vijayarenga Chokkanathar raised a separate temple for the deity at Kannanur. The pillars of the Mandapam adjacent to the scared flag mast sport idols of Nayak kings testifying to the contributions of them to Sri Mariamman.

``Maari’’ is also referred to as rain and in Samayapuram the deity is deeply associated with ``shower of grace’’. In Samayapuram Sri Mariamman, one could experience that She singularly dons the role of the Mother, Father, Guru and Goddess, as she cares, caters, guides and graces, all for Her devotees. It is believed by the devotees that the Goddess has enormous powers over curing illnesses and hence, it is a ritual to buy small metallic replicas, made with silver or steel, of various body parts that need to be cured, and these are deposited in the Undiyal (donation box).

Samayapuram is the only temple in the world, where the Goddess Mariyamman undergoes fasting for the welfare of mankind. Starting from the last Sunday of tamil month Masi (February-March) Mariyamman goes on fasting for 28 days. During this time no solid food is offered as Neivedhanam. Only tender coconut water, orange juice is offered. For completing this fasting famous Poo Choridhal (abishekam with flowers) will happen. Thousands of devotees will do fasting in this time.

At Samayapuram, the colour of the deity is distinctively red (Raktha Varnam), instead of black that is usually reserved for all Mariamman deities elsewhere. Perhaps this too reveals the connectivity of Mahamaayi or Mahaakali with the Samayapuram Sri Mariamman. A set of five Naagars (the five-headed serpent) adorn the deity atop her head and two each on her shoulders and hip. In the Sri Lalitha worship parlance, the Ambal here could be termed “Sahasrakshi”, the 1,000 eyed goddess.