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Yellammadevi
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Goddess Yellamma (Shri Renuka devi), is the Goddess of the Fallen, in the Hindu pantheon. Yellamma, or Renuka, is a patron goddess of many down-trodden people such as Harijans, Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribes people, upper-caste Brahmins and Backward castes. For many thousands of years, people of all castes and creeds have revered her as the "Mother of the Universe" or Jagadamba. Every year, there is a gathering of many of her devotees at , near Belgaum. As many as 200,000 people gather for the ceremony. She loves all people equally, with no discrimination whatsoever. Another temple Renukambe [Yellamma] is atop a hill in Chandragutti, Soraba Taluk in Shimoga. The temple is an example of ancient architecture and dates back to the Kadamba period.
Goddess Yellamma is worshipped mostly in southern part of India namely Karnataka,Tamilnadu,Andhra Pradesh and also in Maharastra.In Southern India,the diety is known by several names as Mahankali,Kali,Jogamma,Gundamma,Pochamma,Mysamma,Jagadambika,Holiyamma,and Renuka Devi.
Legends says Goddess Yellamma is the incarnation of Goddess Kali who on one hand symbolizes the death of ego and on the other hand she is looked upon as a mother who is compassionate about her children.In ancient ages,the works of temples were looked upon by women known as Devadasis.Devadasis literally means the servants of gods,who dwelt in the temple and educated as courtesans or artists.
Early lifeRenuka raja (father of Renuka) performed an yajna — a ritual performed to maintain peace and good health. He was blessed with a daughter, who originated from the fire of this yajna. Renuka was a bright and active child and became the most beloved child of her parents.
When she was eight, saint Agastya, who was the guru of the Renuka Raja advised him to have his daughter Renuka married to Jamadagni when she reached maturity. He was the son of Ruchik Muni and Satyavathi. He had obtained the blessings of the gods by performing severe penance. Renuka and Jamdagni Muni lived in the ramshrung mountains, which is near the present day Savadatti area of Belgaum district. Renuka helped the Jamdagni Muni in all of his tasks of performing various rituals and puja. Gradually she became close and dear to Jamdagni.
Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the Malaprabha River with complete concentration and devotion. Her devotion was so powerful that she was able to create a pot to hold water only made of sand, one fresh pot every day. She would fill this pot, on the bank of the river and would use a snake which was nearby and turn it into a rope-like convolution and place it on her head so that it supported the pot. Thus, she brought the water to Jamdagni for his rituals of oblation.
Later lifeShe gave birth to five sons Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa and Rambhadra. Rambhadra was the youngest and most beloved son. He gained the favour of Lord Shiva and Parvati and hence he was called Parashurama — this is one of the incarnations (6th), of Lord Vishnu.
One day when Renuka went to the river, she saw Gandharva spirits playing. These were young couples carelessly frolicking in the water with abandon. For a moment, she lost her concentration and devotion and fantasized about playing in the river with her husband. She wished she and her husband had such fun sometimes too, living so close to such a beautuful place. After some time, Renuka came to her senses and cursed herself for her indiscretion. She hurriedly bathed as she had lost precious time and tried to create the pot but was unable to as she had lost her concentration. She even tried to catch the snake but it disappeared. Disappointed by this, she returned to the ashram in shame. Seeing Renuka returning empty handed, Jamdagni became furious. He angrily ordered her to go away.
After being cursed by her husband, Renuka went east and sat in the forest to meditate. In her penance, she met with the saints Eknath and Joginath; she prayed to them and asked to gain the mercy of her husband. They first consoled her. They instructed her to follow their advice exactly as told, for three days. They told her to purify herself, first bathing in a nearby lake, and worship a Shivalinga, which they had given to her. Then she would go to the nearby town and beg for rice from the houses for alms — this ritual is still carried out by women during a particular month in Karnataka; it is called "Joga Bedodu". After collecting the rice, they told her to give half the rice to the saints and cook the remaining half, adding jagriey, and to partake of the cooked rice with full devotion. They said that if she performed this ritual for three days, she would be able to visit her husband on the fourth day. Knowing the anger of Jamadagni, they warned her that she may not be fully pardoned by him, and that she would have to experience the most difficult time of her life for few minutes. "After that," they said, “you will be eternally revered and will be blessed with your husband. You will be worshiped by all the people henceforth." After blessing her this way, they disappeared. Renuka followed their instructions with devotion and worshipped the Shivalinga with full care and reverence. On the fourth day, she went to see her husband.
Story behind traditionJamadagni was still furiously angry with her. He ordered his sons to punish their mother. One by one, four of them refused flatly. Jamadagni had the power to burn anyone to ashes with his one look, and he was so angry that he went berserk, and turned four of his sons into four piles of ashes. Parashurama was not there when this happened. When arrived shortly thereafter, he saw his mother weeping by the piles of ashes. His father was still raging mad. Jamadagni told him what happened and ordered him to behead his mother for her infidelity. Parushurama had to think quickly. Knowing his father's powers and the extent of his anger, Parashurama immediately obeyed his father.
His father then offered a boon to Pashuram, who asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life. To everybody's astonishment, Renuka's spirit multiplied and moved to different regions. Renuka was back as a whole too. This miracle inspired her sons and others to become her followers, and worship her. This tradition is practiced even today throughout north Karnataka and part of Maharastra.
Temples1.Mahur (Near Nashik, Maharashtra)
2.Saundati (Karnataka)
Further reading- The Village Gods of South India (London, 1921) by H. Whitehead
- Yellamma: A Goddess of South India (1995) by Channappa Uttangi
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