The village or folk tradition in south India involves the worship of women deities called Amman. Amman worship revolves around women. It originated in villages, and such deities were the Grama Devatas or village guardians. The Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July-mid-August) is very special for Amman worship.
Maariamman is the most well-known among the Amman deities. Others include Ellaiyamman, Pachaiyamman, Mundakanni Amman, Kamakshi Amman, Angalamman, etc. There are many myths about Maariamman. Some believe that she is Mahamaya, the sister of Lord Vishnu.
Another myth says that she is Renukadevi, Lord Parashuram’s mother. She is also Sitala Devi, who protects one from small pox. According to a very popular myth, she is Durgamma, the daughter of a priest. She is tricked into marrying a dishonest man. One day, her husband remarked that he wanted to eat a cow’s tongue. Realizing that he was not a real Brahmin, Durgamma became furious. She turned into a Goddess, took a sickle, and beheaded him.
In another myth, she is a smallpox victim who goes begging from house to house, fanning herself with neem leaves to keep away the flies from her sores. Even now, bunches of neem leaves are hung on doors when someone in the house has smallpox or chickenpox, as it is believed to cure the disease. Neem leaves have antibiotic properties. Maariamman is also called Muthu Maariamman, evoking the pearl-like appearance of both rain drops and the chicken pox pustules. Amman worship is connected to both the disease and rain.
The Ammans often have specific functions. Kamakshi Amman is the Goddess of relationships. Kokkalamman is the Goddess of coughs. Muthu Maariamman is the Goddess of smallpox, and so on.
Goddess Maariamman supposedly created the village. The villagers reside on her body, the earth, which sustains them. They worship her for fertility (both animals and humans), prosperity in the form of rain, bountiful crops, protection from natural disasters, and even ghosts and demons. If evil spirits are present in a place, it is assumed that worship to her is wanting.
Amman is regarded as a form of Goddess Parvati, but she is her own person. She does not share her husband like the Brahminical Goddesses, and there is no sexual dependence on a partner. She is the betrayed, violated, and exploited woman whose purity and courage enabled her to fight against and overcome male oppression.
Priests from any class can perform Amman worship. She does not need Sanskrit hymns. Amman Thalattu is a non-Stotra lullaby that is ad-hoc in nature. Kavadi, fire-walking ritual, and carrying a hot pot/Theechchatti are common features of Amman worship.
Festivals like Aadi Perukku and Aadi Velli highlight Amman worship. People also celebrate other festivals in this month. Here are the main Aadi festivals:
Aadi Perukku
The 18th day of Aadi is Aadi Perukku. People gather at the banks of the Cauvery river and worship it. The festival is a thanksgiving ritual for a good monsoon which makes the water levels rise in the rivers. ‘Perukku’ means ‘rise’. People also worship the Amman Goddesses who represent Nature for peace, happiness, and prosperity.
Goddess Pachai Amman appeared on earth to fill the world with peace and harmony. She appeared in many holy spots and enhanced their divine energies.
There is a Pachai Amman temple in Thirumullaivaayal which has a sacred tank that supposedly has medicinal properties. Devotees come here to worship the Goddess on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in Aadi month. They make “koozh’ or porridge and offer it to the Goddess. They worship waterbodies, including wells and reservoirs, and perform sacred rituals to appease deities associated with water and rain.
Aadi Pirappu
This is the first day of Aadi. People invite their sons-in-law, gift them new clothes and jewels, and throw a feast. Newly married couples separate during Aadi, this is to avoid having babies during the hot summer months of April/May.
On this day, people perform Tarpanam for their forefathers. Many take a holy dip at Rameswaram.
Aadi Pooram
Married women perform Varalakshmi Nombu/Pooja for prosperity and the well-being of their families.
All the Fridays in Aadi month or Aadi Vellis are auspicious for Amman worship. On the first Aadi Velli, women worship Goddess Swarnambika for wealth and prosperity. On the second Aadi Velli, they honor Goddess Angala Amman, who wards off negativity and evil forces. The third Aadi Velli is dedicated to Goddess Kalikambal, who bestows good health and courage. The fourth Aadi Friday is special for Goddess Kamakshi Amman, who bestows good relationships. On the 5th or last Aadi Velli, women honor Goddess Lakshmi by performing Varalakshmi Pooja.
Mulaipari
Mulaipari (Sprouting of Nine Grains or Navadhanyam in a basket or clay mud pots) is a major ritual during Amman worship. It is a women-oriented ritual and is very important for the village. The participants carry earthen pots containing sprouted grains on their heads and walk in procession to the river, where they immerse the pot’s contents. Before the procession begins, they perform a special song and dance called Kummi Pattu or Kummi. Through this ritual, people invoke Amman’s blessings for rain, the fertility of the land, and a good harvest.
