Amman makes a once
a year trip to Coloroon on Thai Poosam to collect gifts from Lord Ranganatha of
Srirangam
Jambukeswarar of
Thiruvanaikaval also sends her gifts during the Chariot Festival
Located 15kms North of Srirangam
Ranganatha Temple on the Trichy – Madras NH is the Mariamman temple in
Samayapuram, a temple whose legend dates back to the period of Vikramaditya. He
undertook penance in this Neem Forest and had darshan of kali. It was then that
Ambal appeared here as a swayambu idol
Samayapuram is said to be
the headquarters of Amman temples.
Amman’s Grand
Posture
Mariamman is seen in a Grand,
Majestic sitting posture with the Serpent Lord providing her cover over her
head. Mariamman is seen with 8 hands, a special feature at this temple and
holds all the weapons that Lord Shiva normally possesses. After destroying the evil forces, she adorned
herself with the garland. Her left leg is seen folded with her right leg
placed down on the ground in a posture of killing three Asuras.
In ancient times, amman was seen with wild teeth.
However, in one of the Kumbabishekam during the last century this was changed
to normal teeth featuring her as a ‘Shantha Swaroopi’ and with a beautiful
smiling face.
Gifts from Shiva
and Vishnu
Shiva, Vishnu and Brahmma are
believed to have invoked the blessings of Mariamman of Samayapuram. To this
day, in memory of this legend, she receives gifts on the day of the Chariot
Festival from the Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval. Only after receiving
the gifts, does she alight from the Chariot and head back to her sanctum.
Similarly on Thai Poosam day,
Amman makes an early morning trip to the Coloroon and stays in the Coloroon in
the night and returns the next day only after collecting gifts from her family
- Srirangam Lord.
When Devaki and Yashoda’s
children interchanged and the girl child went with Devaki to Jail, Kamsa tried
to kill her thinking it was Devaki’s child. It was there that she displayed her
full weaponry with bow/arrow, conch/chakra, soolam, knife, bell, skull and a
drum.
Amman changes
Form!!!
In the middle of the last
century, Tamil cinema actors funded the Poochoodal festival. Dhadhyonam was
presented to several thousands of devotees who came in from villages across the
state. During the Poochoodal festival, one can see the Mariamman in bo and see
the slim and plump forms. During those 28 days true devotees are able to
visualise her change from slim to plump form. This was seen as an aakrosham
period for her and she is anointed with only Uthiri flowers and not garlands.
Historical Temple
With Kannanur as their capital,
the Hoysalas under Veesomavaran built this village and named it as
Vikramapuram. He also built Bhojeswaram,
a Shiva temple near Samayapuram. His son Veera Ramanathan’s rule was a golden period
for Samayapuram with grand festivals being conducted and several improvements
being seen at the temple. Later Vijayanagar rulers too contributed to the
development of the temple.
The utsava deity of mariramman
was one for whom pooja was performed by Vijayanagara kings. Once when the
Utsava idol was placed here after a tiring trip, to their utter dismay, they found
that they could not lift the idol. Later Vijaya Ranga Chokka Nathar (known for
the famous event on Kaisika Dwadasi morning) picked up the idol and installed
it at Kannanur and then constructed the temple in its current form and
structure with three prakaras.
In centuries gone by, it was the
noise of the bullock carts that brought Archakas to the temple!!!
Samayapuram Mariamman is believed
to be a powerful goddess providing solutions to all the problems of devotees
who offer their sincere prayers to her at the temple.
Five Sacred
Theerthams
There are several sacred temple
tanks associated with this temple. Sakthi
Theertham in the South where devotees take bath prior to Anga Pradakshanam,
Mayamayi Theertham in the North West was constructed by Vijayanagar kings.
Theppotsavam takes place here in Chitrai. This tank is connected to the Peruvalai
canal, a tributary of Cauvery. There is inflow and outflow through this canal.
Sakthi Theertham (Aadi Pooram Theerthavari and
Aadi 18 festival)
Mahamaayi Theertham (Grand Float
Festival on Thai Poosam day and in Chitrai)
Sarveswaran Theertham ( Maha Magam Theertham)
Jatayu Theertham ( created to
help Jatayu stay alive till he passed on the information about Ravana to the
son of his friend Dasaratha) and
Ganga Theertham (created by
Vikramaditya after he invoked the blessings of Goddess Kali).
Festivals
Thai Poosam 10 day festival
Maasi Poochoodal Festival on last
Sunday
Brahmotsavam Chariot Festival in
Panguni
The temple is open
between 530am and 9pm without a break. Contact: 99762 77029
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