photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Christa Neuenhofer | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Mariamman and Kaliamman Temples in Tamil Nadu, India tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mariamman and Kaliamman Temples in Tamil Nadu, India

Māri or Mariamman ("Mother Mari"), or simply Amman ("mother") is the South Indian Hindu goddess of disease and rain. She is the main South Indian mother goddess, predominant in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Māri is also closely associated with the Hindu goddesses Parvati and Kali. Māri originated as an ancient village goddess related to fertility and rain. And she was the smallpox goddess before this disease was eradicated. Now she cures all so-called heat-based diseases like rashes and chickenpox. People also pray to Mariamman for progeny, a good spouse, etc. Most Mariamman temples are humble shrines in villages, where non-Brahmins act as priests. In many rural shrines, the goddess has no form and is represented by a granite stone with a sharp tip, like a spear head. This stone is often adorned with garlands made of limes and with red flowers. These shrines often have an anthill that can be the resting place of a cobra. Milk and eggs are offered to propitiate the snake (compare my gallery: Naga Cult - Snake Worship - in Tamil Nadu, India https://pbase.com/neuenhofer/naga_cult_in_tamil_nadu ).

Have a full preview of my book about Dravidian deities (120 pages with lots of photos) in German: AYYANAR UND MARIAMMAN, DRAVIDISCHE SCHUTZGÖTTER IN SÜDINDIEN
and in English: Christa Neuenhofer, AYYANAR AND MARIAMMAN, FOLK DEITIES IN SOUTH INDIA (see below).

THE BOOKS ALSO EXIST IN LOW COST VERSIONS AS EBOOKS. ENGLISH VERSION: http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/417542-ayyanar-and-mariamman-folk-deities-in-south-india
and GERMAN VERSION: http://store.blurb.de/ebooks/pc3532baded5b3a0fd8c5

AYYANAR UND MARIAMMAN, DRAVIDISCHE SCHUTZGÖTTER IN SÜDINDIEN by Christa Neuenhofer | Make Your Own Book

AYYANAR AND MARIAMMAN, FOLK DEITIES IN SOUTH INDIA by Christa Neuenhofer |
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman Temple, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman Temple, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
 Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
 Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738.
Pregnant goddess on the roof of a Kaliamman temple, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738.
Small Kaliamman temple between Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Small Kaliamman temple between Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Wall painting at Punnai Nallur Mariamman temple near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Wall painting at Punnai Nallur Mariamman temple near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee at Punnai Nallur Mariamman temple near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee at Punnai Nallur Mariamman temple near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Samayapuram Mariamman temple one of the richest temples in India. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Samayapuram Mariamman temple one of the richest temples in India. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
In front of Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
In front of Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Small altar at Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Small altar at Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees sacrifice their hair in Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees sacrifice their hair in Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees sacrifice their hair in Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees sacrifice their hair in Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee in an Amman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee in an Amman temple, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Woman possessed by the goddess, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee looking for help in an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotee looking for help in an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees at Madapuram Kaliamman temple near Madurai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Devotees at Madapuram Kaliamman temple near Madurai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Fire ceremony for devotees at Irukkankudi temple near Sattur, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Idol at Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam temple, Madurai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Idol at Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam temple, Madurai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Small cradles show that the wish for a child was fulfilled. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/378
Small cradles show that the wish for a child was fulfilled. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/378
Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Inside a Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Inside a Kaliamman temple near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Chidambaram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Chidambaram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Chidambaram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Kaliamman temple near Chidambaram. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in an Amman temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in an Amman temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in an Amman temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in an Amman temple. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in a Mariamman temple near Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Priest in a Mariamman temple near Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Temple festival of an Amman temple in Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Reclining clay goddess near Salem, Tamil Nadu http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying clay goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Lying clay goddess near Salem. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Saptamatrikas and reclining Amman in a temple near Chennai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738
Saptamatrikas and reclining Amman in a temple near Chennai. http://www.blurb.com/books/3782738