அருள்மிகு சமயபுரம் மாரியம்மன் கோயில், திருச்சிArulmigu Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, Trichy

Sthala Mahātmyam

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, about 15 km north of Trichy, is among the wealthiest and most-visited Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. The presiding Mariamman — goddess of health, rain and protection — is a grama devata revered across the region. Tradition links her to Srirangam: the mulavar image is said to have once stood in the Ranganathaswamy temple and was later enshrined here, and to this day at Thai Poosam the Goddess is carried in procession to the Cauvery near Srirangam, where Ranganatha honours her as his sister with seer varisai (gifts). The present temple is attributed to the 18th-century ruler Vijayaraya Chakravarti. The chief moolavar idol, made of clay and sand, receives no abhishekam; a smaller stone image is bathed per agama vidhi. The Goddess is famed for curing disease and answering vows. The most celebrated observances are the Poochoriyal flower-showering festival in Maasi and the eleven-day Thai Poosam with Theerthavari.