Latvia seeks common roots in Tamil goddess Mariamma
CHENNAI: 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 in Tiruttani, about two hours drive from Chennai. When they called out Mariamma's name, it struck me. The idol and the pictures convinced me later. Latvian Maara is known to be a single woman 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. She was speaking at an international conference on cultural dialogue between India and Europe, organized by the University of Madras on Monday.
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