Punnai Nallur Mariamman Mandir is a famous Amman mandir located at the outskirts of Thanjavur. Mariamman is a form of Mata Parvati Devi, who relieves the diseases of the devotees, especially diseases like small pox, measles and from deadly virus fevers.
Initially, the Amman was worshipped in the form of white-ant hill. Later, the Great saint, Sri Sadhasiva Brahmendra swamy had converted the ant hill into Mariamman mandir and also installed a powerful Sri Chakra Yantra. This mandir is located in Punnai Nallur, situated nearby Thanjavur old Bus stand. Lot of Bus facilities and autos are available from Thanjavur to Punnai Nallur.
Today (10.02.2025), thousands of devotees participated in the Kumbabhishekam ceremony and had nice darshan of Mariamma. Punnainallur Mariamman Mandir is located few kms far away from Thanjavur. This mandir is one of the 88 mandirs under the Aranmana Devasthanam. The special feature of this mandir is that the Mariamman in the sanctum sanctorum is made out of clay. Due to this, no abhishekam is performed on the Amman in the sanctum sanctorum. Instead, a mandalam tailakappu abhishekam is performed once every 5 years. This mandir, which is considered the guardian deity of the people of Thanjavur and its surrounding areas, underwent various renovations after about 21 years and today the Maha Kumbabhishekam was held.
A huge Yagashalai with 41 Yagashalai tanks was set up to perform Yagashalai rituals for the Kumbabhishekam. Preliminary rituals began here on the 3rd with Vigneswara Puja and Maha Ganapathi Homam. The Kala Yagashalai Puja began on the 7th. The Yagashalai Pujas continued.
This morning, the 6th Kaala Yagasalai Puja was held along with the Vigneswara Puja. This was followed by Maha Poornahudi, Maha Deeparathanai, and Yatradhanam.
Later, the caskets of Mariamman and her entourage were taken out from the yagasalai and the Shivacharyas, accompanied by musical instruments, came to the Rajagopuram carrying holy water on their heads. Subsequently, vessels containing holy water were placed and special pujas were performed by reciting Vedic mantras. Then at 10 am, holy water was poured on Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Mariamman, Vishnu Durga, Pechiyamman and the Rajagopuram and the Kudamuzhu was performed.
At that time, Garuda circled in the sky. Later, a Maha Deeparathan was performed. Thousands of devotees participated in this event and had darshan. After the Kumbabhishekam, holy water was sprinkled on the devotees through a shower. The Mariamman Thiruveethi Ula was held tonight at 7 pm. Mandalabisheh pujas will be held from tomorrow.
I also willing to visit this mandir in the near feature to have a pleasant darshan of Ma Punnainallur Mariamma.
“OM SRI PUNNAINALLUR AMMA SARANAM”
-R. HARISHANKAR
