Mariamman
Mariamman is a Hindu goddess worshipped mainly in South India, especially Tamil Nadu, where she is regarded as a mother goddess of rain, fertility, and village protection. She is also venerated in other parts of the Indian subcontinent and among Tamil diasporic communities. While her worship is rooted in Tamil folk religion, Mariamman is generally treated within Hinduism as a form of Devi. In many traditions she is linked to, or syncretized with, major regional goddesses such as Parvati or Durga, but she retains a distinctive identity as a rain- and disease-protective deity.
The principal function of Mariamman is to bring seasonal rain and protect communities from epidemics and illness,
Regional variations: In Sri Lanka, particularly among Tamils, Mariamman is a central goddess with numerous temples;
---