In Sangam literature, there is an elaborate description of the rites performed by the Kuravar priestesses in the shrine Palamutircholai. The temples of the Sangam days, mainly of Madurai, seem to have had priestesses to the deity, which also appear predominantly as goddesses. The cult of the mother goddess is treated as an indication of a society which venerated femininity. She was worshipped by the ancient Tamils as the bringer of rain and thus also the bringer of prosperity, since the abundance of their crops was dependent largely upon adequate rainfall. The word Mari (pronunciation: /mɒri/) has the Sangam Tamil origin meaning 'Rain', and the Dravidian root term Amman means 'Mother'. Mariamman has since been associated with Hindu goddesses like Parvati, Kali, Durga, Rukmini, Sita, Draupadi, as well as with her northern Indian counterpart Shitala, her eastern Indian counterpart, Olai Chandi, and her western Indian counterpart of Mogal mata. She is the main Tamil mother goddess, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Mariamman's worship originated in the traditions of Dravidian folk religion. Origin Mariamman embedded in a trident, 1st century, Chola period, Tamil Nadu, India She is considered as a guardian deity (kaval deivam) by many South Indian village-dwellers. Mariamman is worshipped in accordance with local traditions such as Pidari or the Gramadevatai. Her worship mainly focuses on bringing rains and curing diseases like cholera, smallpox, and chicken pox.

Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season of Ādi throughout Tamil Nadu and the Deccan region, the largest being the Ādi Thiruviḻa. Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman, is a Hindu goddess of weather, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India.

Samayapuram Mariamman, Punnainallur Mariamman, Tiruverkadu Devi Karumariamman Temple Primarily rural Tamil Hindus, South Indian Hindus Mariamma, Mariamman, Mariatha, Mari, Ammaĭevi, Shakti, Mahadevi, Durga, Kali, Parvati, Shitala, Shaktism

Samayapuram amman