Arulmigu Kottai Mariamman Temple

The Arulmigu Kottai Mariamman Temple is located in Salem and is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman. This temple is supposed to have been the guardian deity of the Salem Fort during the pre - British period in Indian history. Goddess Periya Mariamman was brought to the eastern bank of the River Thirumanimuthu by Kanakasabai Mudaliar and Siva Sankara Mudaliar. The annual festival is usually held during July and August every year. A famous poem says that when the Fort was found, Periya Mari was also found and when Salem was found, Periya Mari was also found. This proves that the temple is ancient. This temple is famous for the belief like taking two flowers of different colors and praying with them and at the end of the prayer if the person takes the right flower among the two flowers of his wish, the prayers made by him is said to be successful. In case a person is affected by chicken pox and if he comes here and gets the sacred water and throws it over him it is said that the chicken pox would leave him. One more type of practice that takes place here is the people who pray for them make dolls and then make three rounds around the temple and then keep them in a place where it is ought to be kept. In case a person is affected by any disease like eyes, legs, hands etc., the devotees make the particular shape and keep them in temple and by doing this it is said that the disease gets rectified soon. This is one of the most powerful gods that are worshipped in Tamil Nadu. There are many devotees that worship this temple and this goddess for years together and this created a good name among the pilgrims and so people from long distance travel over here and make prayers on special occasion. Mother Mariamman is facing Eesanya-northeast direction. In the place of the head of a demon under her feet, here Mari Amman has a lotus bud under her feet. Instead of offering the nivedhana symbolically, here Mari Amman is directly fed.