THIS IS JUST A LOVELY SONG DEDICATED TO AMMAN -
Friday, July 11, 2008
Meaning to the Mariamman festival
The Mariamman festival has various aspects to it.
It has been said that this divine Mother had healed the sick with fermented porridge. The question that one would ask why porridge?
The porridge has a cooling effect on the system especially in the hot months of summer in India. This porridge brings great relief to the system.
How to prepare the porridge
The porridge is prepared by taking a required amount of mealie meal and soaking it in a pot of water for a period of 9 days for it to ferment. On the tenth day the mealie meal is transferred into another pot and brought to boil. Once the porridge is cooked it must be cooled. Sour milk chopped onions, shallot, dhania and salt is added to the porridge and mixed.
Porridge is either poured into 9 glasses or offered into 1 container which is offered to Amma before consuming. It is said that when this porridge is consumed after offering it to Amma it contains a special power which can heal any internal sickness.
Another meaning to the word “Mari” in Tamil is small pox.
This ailment is considered a visitation from the Goddess. When a child has this ailment one should keep the child in an isolated room which must be kept clean. All shoes must removed a brass vessel containing turmeric water and syringa berry leaves is places at the doorway so that outsiders may sprinkle the water on them before entering room this is to purify themselves.
Syringa berry leaves is also hung at the entrance of the door and it is also placed under the bed sheet of the person having the ailment. It is said that Mariamman used the very same syringa berry leaves and turmeric powder to heal the sick. The syringa berry tree has great medical value and it widely used in ayurvedic medicine. These leaves have antiseptic qualities.
The turmeric powder is mixed with water and given to the person to drink it serves as an antibiotic internally. After 7 to 9 days if the sores dried, a bath is given to the patient with turmeric water.
On the same day outside the house a korlam is made for the patient sit in, a vessel containing turmeric water and syringa berry leaves is turned around the head of the patient 3 times, a tray containing grounded rice is turned 3 times, camphor is lit and turned 3 times clockwise in the name of Mariamman.
Lastly, 7 kinds of beans that have been boiled is turned around the patients head and thrown on the roof for the birds to eat. Once the patient is completely healed one should visit the temple and give thanks to the Mother.
The Mariamman festival has various aspects to it.
It has been said that this divine Mother had healed the sick with fermented porridge. The question that one would ask why porridge?
The porridge has a cooling effect on the system especially in the hot months of summer in India. This porridge brings great relief to the system.
How to prepare the porridge
The porridge is prepared by taking a required amount of mealie meal and soaking it in a pot of water for a period of 9 days for it to ferment. On the tenth day the mealie meal is transferred into another pot and brought to boil. Once the porridge is cooked it must be cooled. Sour milk chopped onions, shallot, dhania and salt is added to the porridge and mixed.
Porridge is either poured into 9 glasses or offered into 1 container which is offered to Amma before consuming. It is said that when this porridge is consumed after offering it to Amma it contains a special power which can heal any internal sickness.
Another meaning to the word “Mari” in Tamil is small pox.
This ailment is considered a visitation from the Goddess. When a child has this ailment one should keep the child in an isolated room which must be kept clean. All shoes must removed a brass vessel containing turmeric water and syringa berry leaves is places at the doorway so that outsiders may sprinkle the water on them before entering room this is to purify themselves.
Syringa berry leaves is also hung at the entrance of the door and it is also placed under the bed sheet of the person having the ailment. It is said that Mariamman used the very same syringa berry leaves and turmeric powder to heal the sick. The syringa berry tree has great medical value and it widely used in ayurvedic medicine. These leaves have antiseptic qualities.
The turmeric powder is mixed with water and given to the person to drink it serves as an antibiotic internally. After 7 to 9 days if the sores dried, a bath is given to the patient with turmeric water.
On the same day outside the house a korlam is made for the patient sit in, a vessel containing turmeric water and syringa berry leaves is turned around the head of the patient 3 times, a tray containing grounded rice is turned 3 times, camphor is lit and turned 3 times clockwise in the name of Mariamman.
Lastly, 7 kinds of beans that have been boiled is turned around the patients head and thrown on the roof for the birds to eat. Once the patient is completely healed one should visit the temple and give thanks to the Mother.
Shree Marieamman Poosai
One of the grandest festivals of the South Indian community, the Mariammen prayer, will be observed this year between July 17 and August 16. However popular this festival may be, it is rather disheartening to note that many do not know the origin and significance of this particular deity and festival. The concept of mother worship has existed since time immemorial.
Shakthi, as Divine Mother, is portrayed as cosmic energy in its dynamic form. Being the mother of the universe. She is ever ready to heed the call of Her devotees. As such an instance did this force manifest as Muthu Mari Ammen, Muthu (pearl); Mari (rain); Ammen (Mother), thus being titled as the Mother of Rain, that which is more precious than pearls. In time of great drought, a time when people were plagued with measles, mumps, etc. did these people seek the help of the Divine Mother. This Mother, ever willing to help Her children manifested in the form of a woman garbed in yellow and carrying a pot of fermented meal and some syringa leaves, descended on the state of Samayapuram and in the district of Thiruvekardu.Here she fed the ill with the porridge and nursed them with a mixture syringa leaves and tumeric paste. She continued healing the sick and when her work was done She retired to the forest. The people whom She had cured sought Her and wanted to know the identity of this mysterious Atah (aunt). They found Her seated under a syringa tree. They asked Her to reveal Her identity and wanted to know how She could be thanked for saving the lives of so many.She disclosed Herself as the Mother of the universe and asked only that every year in the time that she appeared, her devotees gather in great numbers, worship Her anddistribute holy porridge etc. to everybody, and promised to be their guiding and protecting force.She then disappeared leaving torrents of rain to bathe the earth and aid growth of flora. She then became known as Samayapuram Mariatha and Her scripture beingthe Mariammen Thalatu. It is, therefore, in this great month of Aadi (July - August) that the Mother Mariammen is venerated as the protector and curer of all miseries. TheGargum symbolising her crown is carried honouring Her as the Queen of the Universe.During this period the sanctified food tastes especially delicious and there is intense unity among all, and the regular showers of the rain remind us of Her everlastingpresence.May the Divine Mother Mariammen and Lord Maduraiveeran forever be your guiding force. In her glorious name, Vanakam.
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