Many Coimbatoreans hardly know why the diseases smallpox and chickenpox were referred to Goddess Mariamman.
Despite Coimbatore’s progress with its numerous industries, textile mills, and IT companies, the superstition of believing the attack of smallpox and chickenpox as the wrath of a Goddess was rampant here until three decades ago. The phrase ‘Maariyaaththa Vanthirikku’ (Goddess Mariamman has come) to name the disease was very common in the dialect of Coimbatore.
As the people had no practice of consulting a doctor either for smallpox or chickenpox those days, they had their indigenous ‘divine’ methods of treating the patient by making him or her lie on a white cotton dhoti, applying a paste of neem leaves on the blisters, feeding with tender coconuts and rock candy made of palmyra sap. Moreover, a string of peeled small onions tied around the patient’s neck would be the first identity to recognize the arrival of Maariatha in him or her!
Though many Coimbatoreans hardly know why the disease was referred to the deity, it is interesting to trace its connection with a myth about Goddess Mariamman, who, according to Hindu mythology, was a widow rescued from dying in her husband’s funeral pyre.
Legend has it that goddess Renuka Devi (Later Mariamman) got killed by her husband sage Jamathakni after he was suspicious of her fidelity. But it is painful to know that she was beheaded by her son Parasurama himself after Jamathakni ordered him to do so. However, later on, when the sage asked his son what boon he wanted as a prize for his deed, the clever Parasurama expressed his wish to bring his mother back to life.
But, Renuka Devi came alive only to see her husband Jamathakni dead, as he had been killed by his enemies due to a previous enmity. At last, she jumped into Jamathakni’s funeral pyre to end her life. But Lord Indra rescued her by creating a sudden downpour, which put off the fire.
Now, the Goddess, whose body was full of burn blisters and clothed in bunches of neem leaves, entered a colony of some lowered caste people, who, then, provided tender coconut and jaggery to her.
Legend also has it that Lord Siva, later, vested Renuka Devi with the power to punish the evil doers by creating blisters on their bodies and curing them after they realize their misdeeds. Hence, people worship the deity by offering Her neem leaves and tender coconuts.
Despite the legend, Renuka Devi is called Maariamman, who is identified with ‘Rain’ which means ‘Maari’ in Tamil. It is also evident from the festivals of all Mariamman temples in Coimbatore, which are held in the summer months of April and May - A right to time pray for rain.
Sivadasan, a historian of Tirupur, narrates this tale in his book Kongu Kulangal Varalaru.
As the people had no practice of consulting a doctor either for smallpox or chickenpox those days, they had their indigenous ‘divine’ methods of treating the patient by making him or her lie on a white cotton dhoti, applying a paste of neem leaves on the blisters, feeding with tender coconuts and rock candy made of palmyra sap. Moreover, a string of peeled small onions tied around the patient’s neck would be the first identity to recognize the arrival of Maariatha in him or her!
Though many Coimbatoreans hardly know why the disease was referred to the deity, it is interesting to trace its connection with a myth about Goddess Mariamman, who, according to Hindu mythology, was a widow rescued from dying in her husband’s funeral pyre.
Legend has it that goddess Renuka Devi (Later Mariamman) got killed by her husband sage Jamathakni after he was suspicious of her fidelity. But it is painful to know that she was beheaded by her son Parasurama himself after Jamathakni ordered him to do so. However, later on, when the sage asked his son what boon he wanted as a prize for his deed, the clever Parasurama expressed his wish to bring his mother back to life.
But, Renuka Devi came alive only to see her husband Jamathakni dead, as he had been killed by his enemies due to a previous enmity. At last, she jumped into Jamathakni’s funeral pyre to end her life. But Lord Indra rescued her by creating a sudden downpour, which put off the fire.
Now, the Goddess, whose body was full of burn blisters and clothed in bunches of neem leaves, entered a colony of some lowered caste people, who, then, provided tender coconut and jaggery to her.
Legend also has it that Lord Siva, later, vested Renuka Devi with the power to punish the evil doers by creating blisters on their bodies and curing them after they realize their misdeeds. Hence, people worship the deity by offering Her neem leaves and tender coconuts.
Despite the legend, Renuka Devi is called Maariamman, who is identified with ‘Rain’ which means ‘Maari’ in Tamil. It is also evident from the festivals of all Mariamman temples in Coimbatore, which are held in the summer months of April and May - A right to time pray for rain.
Sivadasan, a historian of Tirupur, narrates this tale in his book Kongu Kulangal Varalaru.