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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox deity
| name = Periyachi Amman
| image = Periachi.jpg
| caption = Periyachi Amman is seen protecting a newborn child in her arms, while killing the queen and trampling the king.
| type = Hindu
| affiliation = [[Devi]], [[Adi Parashakti]], [[Parvati]]
| god_of = Guardian Goddess of newborn children.
| abode = [[Mount Kailash]]
| mantra = Om Śrī Mātre Namaha
| weapon = [[Trishula]], [[Sword]], [[Noose]]
| consort = [[Shiva]]
| mount = [[Lion]]
| festivals = [[Navaratri]], [[Pumsavana]]
| temples = [[Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple]], [[Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore]]
}}

'''Periyachi Amman''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: பெரியாச்சி)([[Transliteration]]: Periyāchī) is a ferocious aspect of Goddess [[Adi Parashakti]] in [[Hinduism]]. She is also sometimes associated with another powerful Goddess, [[Parvati]]. Periyachi Amman is said to be the protector of children and is associated with childbirth and pregnancy, and is also associated with Hinduism in [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]].<ref>Sinha p.303</ref><ref name = "RG"/>

==Legend==
There was once a [[Pandyan Dynasty|Pandya]] king named Vallalarajan Rajah who evilly tormented his subjects. It was said that if his child touched the earth then this act would bring an end to the king. When the queen went into labour, the king could not find a mid-wife. He had to choose a woman named Periyachi. This stern woman successfully completed the delivery of the child and held it up so that it did not touch the earth. The king wanted to kill the newborn, in the intent to preserve his own life. The king did not know that Periyachi was Goddess [[Parvati]], the Goddess of fertility and wife of Lord [[Shiva]], so he was surprised when she took on her true form. Using her multiple arms she trampled the king under her foot. Then, she killed the king using her weapons . At the same time, the queen also wanted to kill the baby as she considered the innocent baby evil but Periyachi Amman killed the queen, ripped out her stomach and ate her intestines, and saved the baby. Therefore Periyachi Amman was known as the protector of babies and expectant mothers.

==Iconography==
Periyachi is recognized by her eight arms and fearsome appearance. She is usually shown holding weapons and a child. She may hold a [[Trishula]] (trident), a noose, a [[damaru]] drum with a snake, a sword and a vessel filled with blood. She is often depicted as standing or seated with her feet on the disembowelled king. In the above illustration she is shown with her two front hands ripping open the abdomen and womb of the queen, who lies on her lap, and is chewing the queen's intestines as blood trickles from her mouth. Two of her hands hold the intestines and the king's child is held aloft in another hand.<ref name = "RG">{{cite book|last=Mark Lewis|title=The Rough Guide to Singapore|series=Rough Guides|pages=64|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRkgkUdWn9wC&pg=PA64&dq=periachi&hl=en&ei=IMykS5D2EpPHrAe52rHcCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=periachi&f=false}}</ref><ref name="Corduan"/> Her fierce appearance is said to ward off evil spirits.<ref name="Corduan"/>

==Roles==
Periyachi is considered a "Kaval Deviam" or guardian spirit. Other male kaval deivams like [[Muneeswaran]] and [[Madhurai Veeran]] are considered her guardians.<ref>Sinha p. 105</ref> Periyachi, along with Jada-Muneeswaran, an aspect of Muneeswaran, are said to come on earth as a ''jodi'' (pair) to ward off evil spirits and guard the earth.<ref name = "S122"/> Periyachi is said to punish women who do and say things to hurt others, and also punishes men who exploit
women, by trampling them under her feet.<ref>{{cite book|last=Eveland|first=Jennifer|title=Frommer's Singapore & Malaysia|series=Frommer's|pages=135|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7MZZ1m6c5QC&pg=PA135&dq=periyachi&hl=en&ei=AKKkS5aNHoq3rAfx8P3eCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=periyachi&f=false}}</ref> She is also regarded as a protector of children.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mat Oakley, Joshua Samuel Brown|title=Singapore|series=Lonely Planet|pages=61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LdAV8XaHDTgC&pg=PA61&dq=periyachi&hl=en&ei=AKKkS5aNHoq3rAfx8P3eCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=periyachi&f=false}}</ref>

==Worship==
[[File:Tamil temple in Singapore 12.JPG|thumb|Periyachi worshipped in [[Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore]].]]

During the third month of pregnancy - among the [[Tamil people|Tamil]] Hindu diaspora, the ceremony of ''[[Pumsavana|Punsavana]]'' ("foetus protection") is performed, along with prayers to Periyachi to guard the mother and child against the evil eye. After that during the seventh month, the ''[[Simantonnayana|Simantonnyana]]'' ("bangle ceremony") is performed along with prayers to the goddess to ease labour pains and protect the mother and child during delivery. On the 30th day after childbirth, in a ceremony at home, a black sari, non-vegetarian dishes and auspicious things are offered to the goddess.<ref name="kumar">{{cite web|url=https://rameshkrishkumar.blogspot.com/2012/11/well-known-goddess-with-unknown-history.html|title=A Well-Known Infuriated Goddess With An Unknown History.|last=Ramesh Kumar|access-date=21 March 2010}}</ref> Women pray to her to avoid misfortune to a newborn baby and mothers are expected to pray to the goddess after a safe child birth.<ref>Sinha p. 303</ref> Then, on the first temple visit after childbirth, the parents dedicate their one-month-old babies to the goddess, placing the baby in front of the goddess on the ground or at her feet. The child's head has to be shaved and covered by yellow cloth. Everyone, except siblings of the baby, back off acknowledging the goddess's protection of the baby in the womb and for the first few months of its life. Then the priest performs usual rites to worship Periyachi.<ref name = "RG"/><ref name="kumar"/><ref name="Corduan">{{cite book|last=Winfried Corduan|title=Neighboring faiths: a Christian introduction to world religions|publisher=InterVarsity Press.|page=213|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pZW6nwbyW5kC&pg=PA213&dq=periachi&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=periachi&f=false}}</ref> Worshipping the goddess for 12 Sundays by couples is said to grant them progeny.<ref name = "off"/>

Tuesdays and Fridays are considered to be special auspicious days to worship Periyachi and Muneeswaran.<ref name = "S122">Sinha p. 122</ref> A festival called ''Periyachi Puja'' is held in the [[Tamil month]] of Aadi (Aati) to honour the goddess.<ref>Sinha p. 87</ref> She is also worshipped in the Tamil month Thai. As part of her worship, an ''padaiyal'' offering, consisting of meat of the sacrificed animal as well as vegetarian dishes are presented to her and then given to devotees as [[prasad]]. Eating this prasad is believed to bring good luck and good health.<ref name="off">{{cite web|url=http://sreemahamariamman.org/deities.html |title=About its Deities and Festivals: Sree Periyachi |year=2008 |work=Sree Maha Mariamman Temple official site |access-date=21 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113225934/http://sreemahamariamman.org/deities.html |archive-date=13 January 2010 }}</ref> During the period of the festival [[Thimithi]], scenes from epic [[Mahabharata]] are enacted by the devotees and drama troupes. A week before the fire walking, they perform prayers to Periyachi. The prayer session is held to request her blessings upon the devotees and that no unpleasant incidents should happen during the festival.<ref name="radha">"Mahabharathathil Uruvaana thiruvizha," by Radha Kasiramu. Tamil Murasu, October 2005, p. 3.</ref> Periyachi is also worshiped as a household or family deity by devotees.<ref>Sinha p.140</ref> She is also said to possess some of her devotees.<ref>Sinha p. 126</ref>

Periyachi's shrines are found in the [[Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple]], [[Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore|Sri Mariamman Temple]], [[Singapore]] and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Kepong. Individual temples dedicated to her also exist, like the Devi Sri Periyachi Amman Temple in [[Penang]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Vineeta Sinha|title=A new God in the diaspora?: Muneeswaran worship in contemporary Singapore|publisher=NUS Press.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RZqjaxHV6o4C&pg=PA303&dq=periyachi&hl=en&ei=AKKkS5aNHoq3rAfx8P3eCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=periyachi&f=false}}

[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Tamil deities]]
[[Category:Childhood goddesses]]

Periyachi - Revision history

imported>WikiContributor263 at 17:41, 31 May 2021