Arulmigu Bannari Mariamman Temple
அருள்மிகு பண்ணாரி மாரியம்மன் திருக்கோயில்
Goddess Mariamman · Bannari, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
One of the most famous and powerful Amman temples in Tamil Nadu; situated at the foot of the scenic Western Ghats inside the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve forest; renowned for the monumental annual "Kundam" (fire-walking festival) where over 500,000 devotees walk across a 40-foot trench of glowing coals; celebrated for peace between tigers and cattle in folk legends. Traditional belief: Protection from infectious fevers, cure of chronic diseases, grant of agricultural prosperity, child blessings, and absolute protection against wild beasts and evil forces.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 05:30 – 21:00
- Established
- 17
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Goddess Mariamman · மாரியம்மன்Ganesha FamilyLord MuruganLord Shiva
- Deity form
- Ancient seated stone vigraha of Goddess Bannari Mariamman adorned with dazzling gold and silver kavacham, bearing sword and trishula with compassionate protective gaze
- Religious tradition
- Agamic Shakta Tradition & Sathyamangalam Forest Folklore Heritage
- Sanskrit name
- श्री बन्नारी मारियम्मन् मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Bannari Mariamman Temple, Sathyamangalam Bannari Temple, Tiger Reserve Amman Temple
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 05:30 AM - 09:00 PM
- Break timings
- Open continuously throughout the day without afternoon break
- Special days
- Panguni Kundam Festival (20 Days), Navaratri: 04:00 AM - 11:30 PM (Continuous Darshan)
- Festival timings
- Open 24 hours continuously during Panguni Kundam festival days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 06:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 08:30 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Friday, Tuesday, Panguni Kundam day, New Moon days, Full Moon days
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Arukala Puja, Sahasra Kumkumarchana, Kundam fire-walking ritual, Golden Chariot procession, Annadanam
- Pooja timings
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:30 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 06:30 AM - 08:30 AM (Special Abhishekam to Ambal on Fridays and Tuesdays)
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Local pastoralists and forest chieftains; developed into a monumental temple by Kongu industrialist philanthropists
- Architect / builder
- Traditional Tamil stone and timber sthapathis
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite stone masonry, brick-lime Rajagopuram, brass flagstaff, massive festival ground
- Historical events
- A shepherd noticed his cow willingly lactating milk over an anthill hidden beneath Vengai and Neem trees; when villagers dug the spot, they found the glowing stone murti of Mariamman
- Renovations
- Punarprathishta performed with a grand new seven-tiered Rajagopuram, air-conditioned marriage mandapams, and solar lighting under Tamil Nadu HR&CE
- Archaeological importance
- Priceless living monument of forest folk-classical synthesis in the Western Ghats borderland
- Legends
- Tigers and cattle drank water side-by-side peacefully from the temple tank under the divine grace of Mother Bannari Mariamman
- Inscriptions
- Commemorative plaques and copper plates recording endowments by local farming communities and merchants of Coimbatore and Mysore
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- 17th Century foundations with grand 20th-century modern expansions
- Structure
- Sprawling forest-edge walled temple complex with seven-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, vast columned prayer halls, Kundam fire trench, and Annadanam halls
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Soaring seven-tiered 80-foot entrance Rajagopuram adorned with colorful stucco sculptures of Mariamman legends and tiger mounts
- Mandapa
- Spacious Mukhamandapa supported by polished granite columns depicting Shakta motifs, yalis, and guardian devatas
- Sculptural features
- Ancient stone murti of Goddess Bannari Mariamman adorned in gold armor; silver chariot (Velli Ratha); shrines of Sarugu Mariamman and Muniappan
- Artistic elements
- Intricate ceiling floral patterns, embossed silver sanctum frames, gold-plated kalashas, and brass oil lamps
- Construction technique
- Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry engineered for monumental festival crowd control
- Unique features
- The legendary 40-foot "Kundam" (holy fire trench) where over half a million devotees walk across red-hot burning coals with bare feet without burns
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Panguni month (March/April Kundam Festival), Ashwayuja Navaratri
- Special celebration days
- Every Friday, Tuesday, Sundays, Full Moon days
- Cultural events
- Folk dance, Nadaswaram, Carnatic classical concerts, and massive civic celebrations during Kundam festival
- Annual events
- The world-famous Bannari Kundam Fire-Walking ceremony drawing over 1,000,000 devotees across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
- Peak crowd season
- March to April (Kundam festival), July to August (Aadi month), and winter weekends
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.