Mariamman
Mariamman is a disease goddess described with unappealing physical characteristics. She is among the various disease goddesses that include deities with similar characteristics, and may have origins in Harappan period representations of goddesses with weapons in their hair.
↻ synthesized from 9 sources
When
- First attested
- 300 BCE
- Attested period
- -300 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Common goddess worship in Tamil Nadu, possibly absorbed Kannagi cult.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Annanmar Thangal, Azhiya Ilangai Amman, Shastha, Kurathiamman, Ellamman, Kamakshi, Angalamman, Kala Bhairavar, Kallalagar, Thillai Kali, Karuppu Sami, Veeramaathi Amman, Kodaiyalappan, Pavadairayan, Renukamba, Pachchaiamman, Draupadi Amman, Peradachiyamman, Periyandichiyamman, Marudhaiyan, Madurai Veeran, Muneeshvarar, Maada saamy, Thalavai Nalla Maada saamy, Veerabhadrar, Periandavar, Sudalaimadan, Sadaiudayar, Nondi Veeran, Kateri Amman, Sapta Kanni, Sankara Narayana, Selliamman, Valampuri Muneeshwarar, Virumandi, Pechiyamman, Maayan, Kazhuvanaathar, Mata, Ayyanar, Annamar, Sasta, Elu Kanniyar, Kanakampikai Amman, Vairavar, Kattavarayan, Ampal, Naka Tampiran, Periyatampiran, Valliyakkan, Varunan, Virumar, Ilanthari, Muruga, Karuppu Sami, Yellamma, Pochamma, saptamatrikas, Kondalamma, Shasta/Ayyanar, Poturaju, Maris, Sugaar, sorginak, Aatxe, Bhadrakali, Bhagavati, Karuppuswamy, Nagavalli, devi, Goddess Parvati, Mā Ujalī Devī, Narasimha, Murugan, Bhumi, Mother goddess, sapta matrika, Our Lady, Narayana, Basa Jaun, Lamia
- syncretized with
- Durga, Naccimar, Bhuvaneshwari, Rajarajeshwari, Kannagi, kali, Shitala, Draupadi, Parvati, Rukmini, Sita, Olai Chandi, Mogal mata, Kannaki Amman
- manifests as
- Sheetala Devi
Mentioned by
Sources
Source passages
“In addition to the fertility goddesses, the various disease goddesses include deities described with unappealing physical characteristics like Mariamman and Mata.”
#9472 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“Mariamman”
#9932 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Within the Jaffna Peninsula, a number of temples dedicated to Kannaki Amman has been converted to Bhuvaneshwari, Rajarajeshwari and Mariamman temples.”
#10694 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“Mariamman is one of the most popular of this class of deity, worshipped throughout South India. She provides fertility and, in many places, protection against smallpox and other deadly diseases.”
#22580 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Kannagi's worship in Tamil Nadu might have been assimilated in the more common worship of the Dravidian goddess Mariamman.”
#31065 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5