Goddess Worshippers Pierce Their Bodies for Her

From One India:
Karnataka devotees pierce their bodies to worship goddess
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 10:32 [IST]
Davangere (Karnataka), May 11 (ANI): Devotees of the Goddess Mattu Mariamma in Karnataka's Davangere town pierce their bodies with iron nails in an act of worship and to seek her blessings.

They pierce various parts of their bodies, including their tongues, backs, chests and cheeks.


"Some people don't have children and some people have difficulties at their homes, and to overcome these difficulties, we follow this ritual every year and pierce our bodies," said Meenakshi, a devotee.

Many childless devotees pierce their bodies in the belief that the goddess would grant them children.

"People worship Mattu Mariamma if they don't have children, if they have some disease, if girls don't get married," said Lakshman, another devotee.

Some devotees go as far as putting tridents in their mouths or hanging iron hooks from their backs as a mark of worship of Mattu Mariamma.

Devotees even hang heavy weights from their bodies in the belief that their wishes would be fulfilled. (ANI)

Goddess Mariyamma

I believe I once read that India is the land of a thousand goddesses - and it certainly seems so. Mariyamma is a goddess whom I had not heard of before. The temple is very brightly decorated with lights and the street around the temple is crowded with people celebrating this feast. I wonder - is the temple always so brightly lit up at night?

Mangalore: Goddess of wealth - Annual Feast of Shri Mariyamma Temple
Daijiworld Media Network [MM]Pics;
Dayanand Kukkaje
February 20, 2008

The annual feast of Shri Mariyamma Temple located at Urva was held on Tuesday, February 19. This temple is regarded to be one of the oldest temples situated in Mangalore. Thousands of devotees residing in and around Mangalore paid their respects and offered their prayers in the temple. Goddess Mariyamma, also referred to as the goddess of wealth is largely worshipped here.

Meanwhile, Gopalkrishna Suvarna, managing trustee of the temple, announced that the managing committee has decided to establish a golden 'Kalasha,' which would include 400 sovereigns of gold. “The faithful have already started to donate gold and cash for this purpose,” he informed.

“The temple is also involved in imparting education to needy children and bears the forefront for many social causes “ he added.

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What's a "kalasha?" I did a bit of quick research on the internet. It seems that a gold kalasha is a pot (bowl) made out of gold that may hold sacred ingredients that are offered to a goddess or god during a ceremonial ritual.

So, is this temple now collecting gold sovereigns in order to melt them down to create a kalasha? Or are the sovereigns going to be spent to buy a gold kalasha? Or are the sovereigns intended to fill the kalasha (that will be provided from another source) in order to enable the temple to carry out the "education of the needy children" and be in the "forefront for many social causes?"