Punnainallur Mariamman Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Tiruchirapalli International Airport is the nearest airport to Thanjavur.

• By train

  Thanjavur Junction railway station is in Thanjavur city.

• By road

  Town buses run between Thanjavur and Punnainallur at regular intervals, and the temple is about five kilometres east of the town.

Why devotees come here

The temple stands about five kilometres east of Thanjavur, in Thanjavur district, and is one of 88 temples under Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam. The presiding deity is Mariamman, shown as a sand idol covered with a silver kavacham. Thousands of devotees come to it through the year.

The presiding deity is Mariamman, shown as an idol made of sand over the anani hill. A silver kavacham covers the idol. Thousands of devotees come from all over the district through the year. Legend says the sage Sadashiva Brahmendra played a major role in establishing Mariamman here.

A small structure was built during the reign of Tulaja of Thanjavur, between 1727 and 1735 CE. Serfoji II, who ruled from 1798 to 1832 CE, added the mahamandapa, the narthana mandapa and the gopura. He also conducted the Kumbhabhishekham, the consecration ceremony. The Thanjavur kings gave enormous landed gifts to maintain the temple, and the endowments were meant for its upkeep.

The temple faces east and has three prakarams, the enclosures around the shrine. The 90 feet high Rajagopuram is comparatively recent. The Sukravaramandapam in the Amman shrine has beautifully carved pillars.

Festivals

• Every yearMariamman festival

  About 20,000 visitors come for the festival each year.

Tips for your visit

• Sundays are considered the most auspicious days to worship Mariamman, and many women and children come then.
• Look for the beautifully carved pillars of the Sukravaramandapam in the Amman shrine.

Questions people ask