The Mariamman Temple is situated at
Samayapuram in Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, an incarnation of
Shakti, the mother Goddess.
The goddess is associated with prosperity and health and it is held that she can cure a devotee of diseases such as small pox and chicken pox. It is believed that
Dasaratha, father of
Lord Ram worshipped here. The processional image of Mariamman is said to have originally belonged to the
Vijayanagar monarchs and that as their empire neared destruction, this image was brought down to Tamilnadu in an ivory palanquin.
The temple has separate shrines for the idol of Goddess Mariamman, which is meant for procession, and the main deity in the sanctum. Lord Karuppannasaami, a local deity also has a separate shrine.
Offerings of salt, jaggery (brown unrefined sugar), lentils and jewelry are made by devotees. The temple is famous for the annual chariot festival and the float festival.
