Some days ago our household helping maid requested for leave of absence for three days as she had to celebrate the Maramma festival (mari habba) at the Bisilu Maramma temple located in the Palace compound behind the Gun House. She also collected some money from us so that she could worship the Goddess on our behalf also. She has been doing this for the past many years.
It seems she made elaborate arrangements by preparing Tambittu (a sweet), curd rice and carrying tender coconuts. The fierce Goddess would be pleased by these offerings referred to as “Thampu Maduvudu” (making her cool or calm). Actually, Maramma is a village deity protecting the population from epidemic diseases. She is known by various names like Mari, Maramma, Masanamma, Chaudi, Kali, Karali etc. She is believed to be a Dravidian and pre - Aryan deity. But she became popular in Aryan area also and hence scholars equate her with Parvathi, the consort of Shiva and explain her as Maheshwari.
According to another story, she is the embodiment of Renuka Devi, the mother of Parashurama. By some misunderstanding, he severed her head which multiplied in hundreds. He became remorseful and requested her to be born in every village. That is why every village has a place of worship for Maramma.
The concept of Maramma was prevalent in almost all ancient civilisations but her names were different. She could cause or cure people from epidemic diseases. Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian pantheons included her. However, Vedas do not refer to her explicitly. Without mentioning her name, Atharvaveda refers to a Goddess whose main duty was to protect the people from epidemic diseases.
Kannada literary works refer to Goddess Maramma by which we can surmise that she was quite popular. Vaddaradhane, Pampabharata, Adipurana, Panchatantra, Kumaravyasabharata etc., refer to her. Many epigraphic records also refer to her as capable of drinking all the blood that was caused by killing the enemy soldiers. Thus most of the kings have boasted themselves as having arranged a feast for Mari.
There are many folktales connected to Mari. According to one version, a king named Chandravarma (not known to history) was ruling the kingdom peacefully without any epidemic or war. The people of his kingdom were happy. One day, the Goddess Maramma appeared in his dream and said “Oh, King! You are keeping your people happy. But what about me? There is neither epidemic nor war and hence I am hungry. I will have to punish you and your people by mass destruction”.
The pious king offered to give his life. But she refused saying that she will not be satisfied by one man's blood. The Ministers who came to know of this dream of the king, decided to invade the neighbouring king and cause bloodshed so that the goddess would be satisfied. Chandravarma defeated the neighbouring king and the goddess had enough blood to drink. Such stories are very common.
Unfortunately the goddess has been portrayed as a blood - thirsty deity from the times of mythology. Obviously this is due to magico - religious (tantric) influence. This is practiced even today in most of the temples. The Government Legislation from the time of the British has failed to stop this practice. It is recorded that Maharaja Sethupati of Ramnad could not stop the sacrifice of animals to the goddess. He requested the pontiff of Sringeri (Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati, 1879 - 1912) to persuade the people from following this obnoxious practice. The Swamiji met the people and told them that no god or goddess in Hinduism is blood - thirsty:
Hinduism is based upon non-violence. Those who follow violence will incur great sin. The good sense dawned on the people of Ramnad and the animal sacrifice was stopped.
There is no village where there is no temple for this goddess. Actually, she welcomes the visitors. Usually we are greeted by Ucchalakkamma and Mullachamma when we enter Kollegal.
Mysore City has a famous temple locally known as Bisilu Maramma temple. Dr. Mysore Nagaraja Sharma, a research scholar, has discovered a very important record throwing light on the temple of Maramma [Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, Edited by R. Gopal, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore 2010, P.415]. Without going into the details it may be stated as follows:
When Tipu Sultan came to power, he destroyed the Mysore Palace, all old buildings including the temple of Maramma.
Later, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had a dream in which Maramma asked him to rebuild her temple and arrange for her worship.
He built the temple and donated lands costing twelve gold coins. He also appointed Hirode Siddanayaka as the hereditary priest of this temple. Even today the members of the family are in - charge of the worship of this temple. Actually the present structure is of a later date. It has a decorated stone which actually is symbolic of the goddess to which animal sacrifice is offered. All these information are provided by this record dated 1800 AD and has a seal and a signature of the Palace Officer. It is in Kannada and almost all people can read it. Tipu Sultan, who is said to have destroyed the old Maramma temple, is referred to as a wicked man (duratma).
Half – a - century ago there used to be mobile Maramma temple — with a woman carrying a small image of the goddess in a basket. Another practice was a man used to beat himself with a thick whip making a lot of sound and collecting money. He also carried an image of Maramma. Now they have disappeared in cities. Whatever the doctors may say, Maramma is bound to continue in our society.
