Renuka Devi to Mariamm an or Yellamman or Matangi

Many of us know Goddess Mariamman or Yellamman and pray to Her for good health, wealth and peaceful life. But, how many of us know the real story. Here goes the story.....

Renuka Devi was born a Kshatriya to a king called Renuka Raja. She was married to Saint Jamadagni and she had five sons. The youngest among their sons were Parushuram who was actually called as Ramabathran.
Renuka Devi was a very pious woman. She had the powers over water element whereas Saint Jamadagni had control over fire. Everyday, Renuka Devi used to go to the river to take bath and then she would make a pot with wet sand and fill it with water and then would take a live snake, make it as a spiral leave it on her head to hold the pot. She would then bring this water for pooja everyday. Jamadagni was very happy about her.
One day, as usual, Renuka Devi went to the river to fill water. There she noticed a few Gandharvas playing on the other bank. She got distracted for a moment and she lost her piousness. She couldn't fill water in a wet pot anymore. Ashamed of herself she came to meet the Saint. Saint Jamadagni known for his rage was very furious and ordered his sons to behead her. Her four sons weren't ready to kill their mother. So, the Saint converted all of them into ashes.
Parushuram @ Ramabathran appeared on the scene and noticed that his brothers have been turned to Ashes and his father was at rage. Seeing Parushuram Sage Jamadagni ordered him to cut his mother's head. Parushuram didn't ask a word and took his axe to cut his mother's head. Renuka Devi started running and it is said that she reached a slum area where a woman in order to protect her came in between and Parushuram cut her head along with his mother's.  Sage Jamadagni cooled down and asked Parushuram what he wants as a boon. Parushuram asked for his brothers' and mother's life back. The sage brought his sons back to life and asked Parushuram to keep the cut heads of his mother and the lady to respective bodies. But by mistake Parushuram interchanged the heads and Renuka Devi and the other lady came back to life. And both became Goddesses.  If you visit Samayapuram in Trichy you can see there are two idols- one with a bigger head and a smaller body and the smaller one below with a smaller head.