Temples have been dedicated to Goddess of small-pox in many places in the country, but Bangalore is the only place in the whole world which have temples dedicated to the Goddess of plague called "PLAGUE MARIAMMA or PLAGUE AMM".
During September 1898, Bangalore City was hit by the most disastrous epidemic called Plague. It is believed that the disease was transmitted by a butler of a railway officer who brought the infection from Hubli. It became an epedemic and the areas worst affected were Balepet, Mamulpet, Old Tharagupet, Lalbagh, Ulsoor and Shivajinagar. It is learnt that the death toll peaked in November 1898, resulting in a decline in the population by 25 per cent. Over 30,000 people left the city during this period. Old Tharagupet, the chief grain market in whole of South India was deserted and the business came to stand-still. The British Officers in the cantonment area sent back their families to England.
Then the government took over. A new business area called New Tharagupet was formed and traders were pursuaded to shift their business to the new locality. A chief plague officer was appointed for the effective implementation of anti plague operations. Segregation camps were established, people with normal mhealth were asked to vacate their homes and live in segregation camps. Disinfection was undertaken. The houses where deaths occured due to the epidemic were demolished. Check-Posts were created and people entering the city were disinfected. The city also witnessed many changes during the period. Telephone lines were laid for the effective implementation of anti plague programme. New amenities like sanitation and health facilities were provided. New localities Malleswaram and Basavangudi were created. European style of hotels were opened for the benefit of the British officers who had sent back their families to England. Regulations were issued for constructing new houses with proper nfacilities for sanitation and ventilation. Victoria Hospital was inaugurated with better medical facilities.The disease was brought under control. The government announced a bonus of one month's salary for those whose salary was Rs 10 or less and died of plague while on duty.
While the government was taking all measures to combat the epidemic, elders of the localities afftected by the disease which resulted in heavy death toll, thought that the spread of deadly disease was acurse of Goddess Plague Mariamma and decided to build a temple dedicated to Goddess Plaguie Mariamma to ward of the evil. Temples were built in the name of Goddess and offerings were made. The residents of these localities also found another way to dirvert the attention of goddess, they wrote on the doors of their houses " PLAGUE AMMA, ALE BAA (PLAGUE AMMA, COME TOMORROW)".
The Plague Mariamma temples are than a century old, still continue to perform Pooja without a break even today. The temple are periodically renovated and in some places some more dieties have been added and in some cases names have been changed. These temples are the only mute witnesses to the disastrous epidemic that struck the Great City of Bangalore.
This temple located at Bowee Lane, Ulsoor, still retains the name "Plague Mariamma Temple". Other temples have changed their names.
During September 1898, Bangalore City was hit by the most disastrous epidemic called Plague. It is believed that the disease was transmitted by a butler of a railway officer who brought the infection from Hubli. It became an epedemic and the areas worst affected were Balepet, Mamulpet, Old Tharagupet, Lalbagh, Ulsoor and Shivajinagar. It is learnt that the death toll peaked in November 1898, resulting in a decline in the population by 25 per cent. Over 30,000 people left the city during this period. Old Tharagupet, the chief grain market in whole of South India was deserted and the business came to stand-still. The British Officers in the cantonment area sent back their families to England.
Then the government took over. A new business area called New Tharagupet was formed and traders were pursuaded to shift their business to the new locality. A chief plague officer was appointed for the effective implementation of anti plague operations. Segregation camps were established, people with normal mhealth were asked to vacate their homes and live in segregation camps. Disinfection was undertaken. The houses where deaths occured due to the epidemic were demolished. Check-Posts were created and people entering the city were disinfected. The city also witnessed many changes during the period. Telephone lines were laid for the effective implementation of anti plague programme. New amenities like sanitation and health facilities were provided. New localities Malleswaram and Basavangudi were created. European style of hotels were opened for the benefit of the British officers who had sent back their families to England. Regulations were issued for constructing new houses with proper nfacilities for sanitation and ventilation. Victoria Hospital was inaugurated with better medical facilities.The disease was brought under control. The government announced a bonus of one month's salary for those whose salary was Rs 10 or less and died of plague while on duty.
While the government was taking all measures to combat the epidemic, elders of the localities afftected by the disease which resulted in heavy death toll, thought that the spread of deadly disease was acurse of Goddess Plague Mariamma and decided to build a temple dedicated to Goddess Plaguie Mariamma to ward of the evil. Temples were built in the name of Goddess and offerings were made. The residents of these localities also found another way to dirvert the attention of goddess, they wrote on the doors of their houses " PLAGUE AMMA, ALE BAA (PLAGUE AMMA, COME TOMORROW)".
The Plague Mariamma temples are than a century old, still continue to perform Pooja without a break even today. The temple are periodically renovated and in some places some more dieties have been added and in some cases names have been changed. These temples are the only mute witnesses to the disastrous epidemic that struck the Great City of Bangalore.
This temple located at Bowee Lane, Ulsoor, still retains the name "Plague Mariamma Temple". Other temples have changed their names.
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