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LATVIA SEEKS COMMON ROOTS IN TAMIL GODDESS MARI AMMA

The pronunciation of the name, the long black hair and the symbolic milking of a cow are unmistakable. Although the faces  and costumes do not match, there are several reasons to believe that the Tamil goddess MARIAMMA is the same as Latvian goddess MARA (Pronounced maara) say Latvian researchers studying cultural relations between Europe and India.

“ I was invited to a temple festival Tiruttani, about two hours drive from Chennai. When they called out Mariamma’s name, it stuck me. The idol and the picture convinced me later: Latvian Maara is known to be a single women and as the goddess of fertility”, said Professor Sigma Ankrava, a research fellow at the Indian council for Cultural Relations and head of literature and culture in the department of English studies at the  University of Latvia .

For more information- Times Of India 6-3-12