Kateri Amman

Katteri Amman
Venerated in	Dravidian folk religion
Affiliation	Parvati
Weapon	Sword, Trishula, Aruval
Mount	Horse,Lion
Gender	Female
Consort	Shiva
Offspring	Munishvaran

Kateri Amman (Tamil: காட்டேரி அம்மன்), also abbreviated to Kateri Maa, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily within the traditions of the Dravidian folk religion, which is generally classified under Saivism. Kateri Amman is regarded a fierce and protective form of the Divine Mother. She is particularly among communities seeking protection from supernatural forces. In certain traditions, she is identified with Kali or Durga due to her fearsome and protective attributes.

In Tamil Nadu, she is often regarded as a form of Parvati, who acts as a guardian deity for individual towns.^[1] Some of her devotees also regard her to be a form of Mahadevi, who is believed to be tasked with the responsibility of destroying sicknesses during Kali Yuga.^[2] Kateri Amman is often depicted in the company of guard deities, Munishvaran, Madurai Veeran, Karupan, and Sudalai madan.^[3]

According to Hindu mythology, Shiva once observed his consort, Parvati, mysteriously leaving their bed during the night and returning before sunrise. When he questioned her about this behavior, Parvati expressed confusion, asserting that she had remained by his side throughout the night. Determined to uncover the truth, Shiva decided to secretly follow Parvati. He trailed her from their abode on Kailasa to a nearby forest, where he witnessed her transformation into the terrifying form of Kali. In this form, she was seen exhuming corpses from the ground with the intent to consume them.

Seeking to end these actions, Shiva dug a pit along her path. When Kali fell within the pit and saw Shiva, she was overcome with remorse and vowed to abandon this morbid pursuit. She assured Shiva that she would leave behind her terrible form within the pit and return to him as a dutiful consort. The shakti that was left behind would become her form of Kateri Maa (काटेरी माता), a benevolent goddess associated with the destruction of diseases and the protection of her devotees.

In certain Tamil folk traditions, Kateri Amman is also associated with more malevolent aspects. According to these beliefs, Kateri Amman's origin is traced back to a curse laid upon her by Shiva, compelling her to roam the forests, preying on pregnant women if not properly worshipped. Kateri is also portrayed to be violent and witch-like for this reason, associated with rituals that involve blood and spiritual possession.^[4] She is portrayed to be an entity who protects children and she is often depicted as a fierce deity, protecting people from evil spirits, witchcraft, and disease.

Kateri is often depicted in many forms. is represented to be either dark blue or black. She is seen either holding a aruval, bowl, trishula, or a staff^[5]

Kateri Amman is venerated primarily in the villages of South India and Sri Lanka, particularly among communities with a warrior heritage. She is also worshipped by members of the Telugu diaspora and the Tamil people in regions such as Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Mauritius, and South Africa.

Common offerings to Kateri Amman include neem leaves, limes, and flowers. Devotees often create clay figurines of guardian deities and float them in rivers or ponds as part of ritual practices. Animal sacrifices, particularly involving chickens, and offerings of dried fish accompanied by rice meals, are also observed. Additionally, sweet rice dishes such as pongal and the lighting of flour lamps are common elements in her worship.

Kateri Amman is regarded as a kuladaivaṃ (family deity) by many devotees, believed to offer protection against black magic, witchcraft, diseases, and spirit-induced afflictions. She is also invoked for victory in conflicts and the general safeguarding of families and communities.^[6]