Periachi Amman

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Sri Periachi Amman is considered as the protector of children and

mothers. Newly born babies are placed at Her feet to receive

blessings for a healthy and long life. This is usually done after a

month when the "theettu" is completely removed.

 

This practice can be traced to a story involving one of the Pandya

Kings, Vallalarajan. He was not a kin King and the people under his

rule suffered a lot. His wife suffered severe pain at the time of her

delivery. As the pain went on unabate, the king sent his soldiers to

find a midwife. They were unable to do so. Therefore the King went

looking for one. Periachi, the goddess of the asuras, appeared before

him and volunteerd to be the mid-wife.

 

She successfully helped to deliver the Kings's baby. However, the

king refused to pay her dues. In his arrogance he felt that a subject

should not ask for a fee from a king. Periachi threw the King down to

her feet an disemboweled his wife and wore her intestine as a

garland. For this reason pregnant ladies make a promise to bring

their babies to seek Her blessings for a safe delivery. As periachi

is considered the mid-wife, women who do not have babies also pray to

her to be blessed with a child

 

Pictures of Sree Periachi Amman is in the ablum : various other forms

of Devi [2], Picture 9.

 

Extracted from souvenior magazine of Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman

Temple, published during the Maha Kumbabishegam, 4th February 2001