Mariamman Temple
Deities
Moolavar (Main Deity)
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Ambal (Goddess)
Mariamman
Timings
Opening Hours
06:00 AM to 12:00 PM12:00 PM to 09:00 PMThe temple is open from morning 06.00 am to Night 09.00 pm Note:Opening hours and closing times are subject to change during festival periods
Pooja Timings
Not available
Address & Contact
Address
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Village: East Madurai
Phone
Historical Information
Padal Pettrathu
nil
Sanctorum Shape
Square Shape
King's Period
NIL
Temple Specialty
Parigaram
Ambica-Durga is the main Goddess-custodian deity of Madurai. She is praised as Aadhi Deivam. People of Madurai seek permission and approval from Her before planning any. The first puja is dedicated to Ambica here by all temples before commencing their festivals. The abishek water is stored in a big bowl which people take as Prasad and medicine for curing small pox and vision related problems. Those facing skin problems offer Salt as prayer commitment. Many light lamps in lime fruit cups.
Parigaram
Realizing their wishes, devotees carry fire pots, milk pots and mulaipari. They also offer vastras to Mariamman.
Prayer
Those suffering from eye sore and small pox and those seeking wedding boon and welfare of their children pray to Ambiga.
Holly Tank
Madurai is one of the oldest cities in Tamil Nadu. Madurai is a city that has survived a thousand storms and is still alive today bearing its history majestically. Madurai has a remarkable thousand-year history. Vandiyur Theppakulam, Madurai Vandiyur Theppakulam was carved by Thirumalai Nayak, the father-in-law who ruled Madurai in sixteen hundred. It can be said that the golden age of Madurai history was when the Nayaka kings who were interested in architecture ruled Madurai. King Thirumalai Nayak was the most skilled of the Nayak kings. Various stories are circulating among the people of Madurai about this Theppakulam cut by him. One of them was the place where the king took the soil to build his palace and later became Theppakulam, but historians say that it is not true. Vandiyur Theppakulam was carefully cut in 1865 to add beauty to Madurai. The Theppakulam is square in shape with a length of 1000 feet and a width of 950 feet. Its depth is 29 feet and water capacity is 115 cubic feet. A central hall was d in the middle of this Theppakulam. A testament to its architecture today is that the shadow of the central mandapam, which is built in the outer Pallava style of architecture and the inner hall in the Mughal architectural style, does not fall on the water. A connection was made to the Vaigai river nearby to fill the Theppakulam. Vandiyur Theppakulam has 12 steps three to a side. Every year on Thaipusa day, Theppathruvizha is celebrated. King Thirumalai Nayak, who specially designed Theppakulam, opened this Theppakulam on his birthday. And on that day, Meenakshi made Sundareswar wake up in Theppakulam. Even today, the birthday of King Thirumalai Nayak and Theppa festival are celebrated by the people of Madurai on Thaipusa Thirunaal.
Tank Information
THEPPAKULAM: Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a temple tank located near to Vandiyur Mariamman Temple and situated at a distance of about 5 km from the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Literally, Teppakulam means temple pond mainly used for devotional festivals. The tank is connected to Vaigai River through an ingenious system of underground Channels. It has total of 12 long stairs (steps) made of granite on all four sides. The temple as well as the stairs was built by the King Thirumalai Nayak. In the centre of the tank there is a Madapam called Maiya Mandapam (Central Mandapam) with Vinayakar temple and garden.
This is the location where the king Thirumalai Naicker excavated the soil to fabricate the bricks required for constructing his palace, Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. The pit that was thus formed is seen as tank now. It is approximately 305 m long and 290 m wide, nearly equal area to that of Meenakshi Amman Temple. Built in 1645 A.D.,this is the biggest tank in Tamil Nadu. 7 foot tall Mukuruny Vinayakar idol in Meenakshi Amman Temple is believed to be found during excavation process of this pond. Mariamman Teppakulam is famous for the celebrations of the Float festival, which is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai.
The celebrations take place on a full moon night (Thaipusam) and the pristine water turns colourful as the temple is lit. The idols of Goddess Meenakshi and her consort Lord Sundareshwarar, the deities of the Meenakshi Amman Temple come down to the tank in colorful floats, presenting a mesmerizing sight. Pilgrims across India come to Madurai to participate in the festival.
