The historical and cultural history of Mamallapuram, also called Mahabalipuram is a place whose beauty lies in the soft breeze of the sea wind.  It is a holy birth place of Saint Boothathu Azhwar.  Pidari Karukatha Amman is situated at the border of the city.  Amman, being at the border of the place is worshipped as the custodian deity of the residents here.  The added significance of the place is its very design agreeing with Agama rules.  Lord Thala Sayana Perumal takes care of the east of the city while Mother Karukatha Amman does it in the west.  The southern part of the city is a treasure land of sculptural beauties.  Today’s Mamallapuram is a place sung by Vaishnava Azhwars.  The blood stains of Demon Mahishasura still exist in the backside of a hill where he was destroyed by Mother Karukatha Amman.

The Mahishasura is well described here by the believers and how Amman looked terrible and furious and how they trembled at the moment.  She was softened by the sacred ashes and turmeric then.  The fury episode is aesthetically depicted in the Varaha Mandapa and compassionate episode in the Adi Varaha Perumal Temple.  These are cave temples – Kudaivarai Koil.  The temple has shrines for Lord Vinayaka and Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai.  Mamallapuram is a  piece of earth in Tamilnadu representing the divine temple architectural skills of a race known as Tamils. Their descendents still exist carrying the profession of the ancestors.

Devotees submit their prayers to Mother Amman for relief from black magic and witchcrafts, mental illness, poverty, family prosperity, from prolonged illness and  for the security of their Mangal Sutras.

A woman was suffering from successive abortions said to be due to the curse of the ancestors.  Responding to her sorrow and tears, Amman showed all grace to her and she delivered a beautiful child.  As Her blessings saved the woman’s pregnancy – Karu in Tamil – Amman is praised as Karu Katha Amman.  The Red cloth clad women visiting Adi Parasakthi in Melmaruvathur temple still follow the custom of worshipping first Lord Thala Sayana Perumal and His beloved Sister Karukatha Amman in Mamallapuram and then only continue their pilgrimage to Melmaruvathur.

The devastating tsunami of 2004 is still a living memory of many especially those affected in the coastal areas of Tamilnadu claiming huge number of lives. Mamallapuram, housing the temples of Lords Shiva and Vishnu was an exception though on the sea shore.   It was the grace of God and Mother Karukatha Mariamman that saved the people from the calamity, devotees believe.  Though generally Kali temples are found facing north, Karukatha Amman is facing east which is a significant difference.  Mother Amman appears in the sanctum sanctorum in a sitting form with matted hair.  The antiquity of the temple is believed to be over 300 years.