Maariamma is the South Indian main mother goddess of rain.

Maariamma is the South Indian main mother goddess of rain. She is closely associated with goddess Parvati and Durga as well as with her North Indian counterpart Shitaladevi. Goddess Mariamman is considered by many to be the South Indian Incarnation of Goodess Kali. It is said that when Kali went to Southern India as Mariamman, Bhairava followed her as Madurai Veeran. Throughout the Tamil Nadu and deccan region, grand festival known as "Aadi Thiruvizha" are taken for Maariamman. Her worship mainly focuses on bringing rains and curing diseases like cholera, smallpox, and chicken pox.

According to shaktha agamas, she is depicted in sitting posture and might be flanked some times by Ganesha and Subramaniya or Ganesha and Naaga on her sides. The word Mari has a sangam Tamil origin meaning "Rain" and the Tamil word Amman means "Mother". She was worshipped by the ancient Tamils as the bringer of rain and thus also the bringer of prosperity, since the abundance of their crops was dependent largely upon adequate rainfall. The cult of the mother goddess is treated as an indication of a society which venerated femininity. The temples of the Sangam days, mainly of Madurai, seem to have had priestesses to the deity, which also appear predominantly a goddess.

The worshiping methods are non-vedic and often accompanied by various kinds of folk dancing. Offerings such as pongal and koozh that are cooked using earthen pots are also made during the festive season. Rituals such as fire walking and mouth or nose piercing are also practised. Countless people fast, shave their heads, and wear bright yellow clothes, which are sacred to the goddess. Many women and children carry a pot on their heads decorated with the goddess’s favourite leaves of the margosa tree. Some put themselves through a special tribulation of having one of the sacred weapons, dagger, trident, or a spear, inserted through their cheeks or tongues. Through this worship each individual realizes themselves and others through samsara and moksha. In this self-realization he or she is bonded with the goddess, which is the underlining reason of the worship.! ✨👁👑🕉🌙🎨🔱🌀🙏

Jai Maa Shakti Jai Maa kali 🕉🙏🕉