Description Mariamman’s worship probably originated in pre-Vedic India. She is the main Tamil mother goddess, predominant in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu. In the post-Vedic period, Mari was associated with goddesses like Parvati, Kali and Durga as well as with her North Indian counterpart Shitala Devi and Eastern Indian counterpart Manasa.The word Mari has a Sangam Tamil origin meaning “Rain” and the Tamil word Amman means “Mother.
