Some People believe that Mother Parasakthi took away the heat from the world and provided Rain to protect the lives on the Earth. They thought that Mother Parasakthi appeared in this world as Mariamman. Some thought that Mariamman was Renuga mother of Parasuraman. Others though that Mariamman was Sakthi who destroyed Marasuran. Some thought that the worship of Kannaki later on changed into the worship of Mariamman yet people believe that Mariamman is part of Parasakthi who had taken away the heat from the Earth, provided Rain and protected the lives on the Earth. Still they belive that Mariamma is Mahasakthi.
There are temples in every place for this Mahasakthi and she has been creating womders in all these places. In Valangaiman, Varadharajanpettai’s Mahamariamman had a wonderful historical background.
In a street Valangaiman Varadharajanpettai about 200 years ago there lived Kathagounder. His wife’s Govindamammal both of them devotees of God. Kathagounder was a farmer. His wife prepared eatables and sold them in the nearby villages. She had a good sale of her eatable in a village called Pungancheri South East of Valangaiman.
Oneday on Friday Govindammal went to Pungancheri for her business. She got a lot of money, paddy and then she went to a tank for bath, there she saw a Brahamin couple with their child went towards Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar Temple. After bathing Govindammal heard the cry of a child from the side of the Ayyanar temple.
Govindammal hurried to the spot and found a girl child was crying there. She called the neighbours and the people from the street ran towards the temple. They searched for the persons who brought the child there, but ther was nobody.
Govindammal took the crying child and immediately the child stopped her cry and laughed beautifully. All the people of the street were attracted by beauty of the child. And they wanted to bring up the child themselves.
Finally the people decided that the leader of the street (Nattamai) should bring up the child. Govindammal felt sorry that she did not get the child. She returned to her house and for three days she didnot go to Pungancheri for selling.
In Pungancherri all of a sudden fowls, sheep and cattles died and many people suffered by small box. The child from the Ayyanar temple was also infected by small box. There was confusion everywhere at that time a furious man said that the child should be given to Govindammal and further said that then only that village would be come well.
Immediately they called Govindammal and gave the child to her. Govindammal got the child named her as ‘Sithala’ and began to bring her up. But on the 3rd day by the acute small box the child passed away. Govindammal and her husband with sorrowful heart did the funeral at the back of their house (some belived that the child lived for seven and half years in Govindammal’s house and had done many wonders and then only she died).
Later on people after bathing in ‘Kudamuruti’ crossed the backyard of Govindammal’s house. They came to know that it was Mariamman came to the house of Govindammal in the shape of the child, immediately they built Sithala Devi Mahamariamman temple and considered the Goddess as Mother Parasakthi. This is the historical backgound of the Valangaiman Mahamariamman temple.
Festivals
The two months Punguni and Avani are very important months for festivals in this temple. In the month of Avani on every Sunday special festivals are considered for Sithala Devi. On every Sunday special Abhishekam and Araathanai are conducted for the Goddess from 7.00 p.m night.
Special Religious lectures, finearts programmes are conducted for the people for the devotion towards the Goddess. A number of people worship the Goddess and receives her blessings.
In the Last Sunday of the month Avani the floating festival of the Goddess is conducted. The Goddess in her Swan vehicle goes around the tank and appears before the devotees.
The Punguni festival starts in the first Sunday of the month that night Kappu is tied both for the Goddess and the Priest.
