Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, Thanjavur

The Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, popularly called Thanjavur Mariamman Kovil, stands at Punnainallur on the outskirts of Thanjavur and draws thousands of devotees through the year. The goddess Mariamman is represented by an image of sand over an anthill, covered with a silver kavacham. Tradition holds that the sage Sadashiva Brahmendra created it at the goddess's bidding, and that she later asked King Venkoji, in a dream, to build her a proper temple amid the punnai trees. His son Thuljaji is said to have renovated it after his daughter's eyesight was restored here.

Facing east, the temple has three prakarams and covers about an acre, with a relatively recent 90-foot rajagopuram and several mandapams; one carries paintings of the eight forms of Lakshmi, and the Sukravara mandapam has carved pillars. Pujas are held four times a day, and Sundays are the most auspicious days for worship, when many women and children come.