Maariamma

Goddess Mari or Mariamma or Maariamma or Amman means "mother". She the most prominent South Indian mother goddess and is related with Hindu goddesses Parvati and Durga.

Goddess Mari is represented as a beautiful young woman with a red-hued face, wearing a red dress. Mariamma is represented in a sitting posture with four hands, in which she holds a kind of drum called Damaru, a trident called Sula, a bundle of ropes called Pasa and a skull.

Mari is said to be the Goddess of Disease. She was considered the smallpox goddess before this disease was eradicated. Now she cures all so-called heat-based diseases like pox and rashes. Mari is also considered to be the Fertility goddess.

Her pagodas are found everywhere, usually at some distance from the villages, in groves in various parts of South India.

An annual festival is celebrated in her honour, which lasts eight days. The image of Goddess Mari is carried about every morning and evening. There is a procession carrying lights. In the night, the followers carry oil lamps in procession, which is a beautiful sight. The men bring goats, swine, and cocks, and behead them before the idol. They ask the goddess to protect them in the coming year from all evil. At this same time Rupakas are acted, and there is much dancing.