Motywy roślinne w pieśniach ku czci bogini Marijamman

The aim of this article is to present the role of medicinal plants depicted in the songs of praise for Māriyamman and the important role they play in the ritual and in the cult of this goddess. This paper illustrates the connection between Māriyamman’s power of healing and the use of particular flowers to satisfy the goddess and cure the illness, usually skin problems, suffered by the worshippers. The medicinal plants and the benefits of their use are discussed in the context of a division into two socio-ritual spheres – kadu and nadu – representing areas overgrown by nature and inhabited by people respectively. They are analysed to present the strong influences of medicinal plants in the ritual performed in the cult of Māriyamman. With their help, the goddess, – despite the progressive process of Sanskritization in her cult, still representing the dangerous powers of nature that need to be appeased to be protective – becomes more accessible and benevolent towards people.