Kateri Amman

Kateri Amman , also spelt as Kaateri is a form of Maha Devi who was created to destroy sickness and disease in this dark age of Kaliyuga. Kateri is also considered as The Sister of Kali Maa and Ganga Maa by her devotees. She works alongside Ganga Maa in Caribbean Kali worship to remove diseases and to grant children to their devotees. She is known to go within the deepest parts of a devotee's body to remove sicknesses.

Kateri Maa, Kateri Amman
Tamil script	எந்த அம்மன்
Kannada script	ಇದು ಅಮ್ಮನ್

Kateri can be depicted in many forms with many different appearances. But her skin tone is either dark blue or black, hence sometimes calling her Kaal Kateri Maa or The Black Kateri Maa. She is seen either holding a sword, bowl, trishul, lotus or even all in her four armed form.

Her worship is popular in The Caribbean as she is worshiped in Kali/Mariamman/Shakti temples in Mauritius, England, Trinidad and Tobago, America, Guyana and many other places. Her offerings include Neem Leaves, Limes, Arahul Flowers and sometimes Alcohol and Cigarettes. She is sometimes also offered the sacrifice of a black goat or fowl, it all depends on the person's family lineage and their mode of worship.

However, this goddess is a folk Dravidian goddess of Southern India, so she has no reference in the Scriptures. But she exists and she helps her devotees once they worship her and love and care for her.

Origin

There are many stories on how this Devi was created. Some say she was a flesh-eating form of Parvati Devi, the consort of Lord Shiva. But the more popular one in The Caribbean is she was a healer.One in Southern India there was a merchant, and one day his daughter became very sick and was going to die. Seeing this happening to his daughter, he prayed to Mariamman as she was the head goddess of South India. She did come but in a new form, this new form healed the merchant's daughter and he thanked her. He asked her name and she said her name was Kateri Amman. In all Kali Temples in the Caribbean, Kateri Maa manifests within a devotee and heals whoever comes to her for help. She always works hand in hand with Ganga Mata to remove sickness and give children to barren women.

Confusion

• 
  Bahuchara Mata, a folk goddess of Gujarat.
• 
  Khodiyar Maa, another folk Gujarati goddess.
• 
  Katyayini Maa, the sixth Navadurga.
• 
  Venkateswara avatar of Vishnu.
• 
  Shrinathji , Lord Krishna as a seven year old.

It is a popular misconception that Kateri Maa is Bahuchara Mata, a folk goddess of Gujarat, while the two devis are separate. People use images/murtis of Bahuchara and Khodiyar to worship her and this is a big mistake, especially if they offer sacrifices alcohol and cigarettes to these devis.She is also considered to be Katyayini Devi, the sixth Navadurga but this is a big mistake as both Devis are different Devis with different reasons. People also use murtis of Venkateswara who is a Southern Indian Incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Shrinathji who is actually Lord Krishna as a seven-year old and it is in this form that he lifted up The Govardhan mountain after Indra created storms and rains. The habit of most people is that they usually consider all the deities with a dark complexion, whether male or female to be Kateri Maa and this is a very big mistake that many people are making. There are some that are actually trying to show people their mistakes but in Kaliyuga, ignorance reigns till Kalki Avatar of Lord Vishnu comes on Earth.

Worship

People who worship her will offer her Dhar which is an offering of water mixed with different ingredients at their place of worship in their yards known as a Jhandi. They will offer a mixture of water and/or milk, Arahul or any red flower, Neem Leaves, Sindoor, Saffron Powder, White Rice, White Sugar, Cloves, Grounded Nutmeg and grounded Camphor from a Lota. Other offerings to her includes Kheer, Lapsi and Sohari, Fruits, Coconuts, Limes, Neem Leaves, Flowers and garlands made with Neem Leaves, Limes and flowers. Her flag colour is black as that is her complexion. Usually her Poojas are performed near rivers, seas or under trees. Coconut flowers are used to represent her as they are the most purest flowers as they are not tampered or interfered with by insects.