SRI SAMMAKKA SARALAMMA JATHARA

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శ్రీ సమ్మక్క సారలమ్మ జాతర – మేడారం

శ్రీరస్తు

శుభమస్తు

అవిఘ్నమస్తు

శ్రీ సమ్మక్క సారలమ్మ జాతర – మేడారం
ఎస్.ఎస్. తాడ్వాయి (మండలం), ములుగు జిల్లా

The sacred place of Sammakka Saralamma Jathara is located at Medaram Village, Tadwai Mandal, approximately 104 Kms from the District Headquarters of Warangal towards the north-eastern side.

On the banks of Godavari River, amidst of dense forest, where even the Sun rays could not pierce, Medaram had been a habitation to the indigenous Koya Dora Tribal Folk in the 10th Century. As a part of their livelihood, one day when they got into the dense forest while hunting, they found a newborn infant illuminating around, guarded by Tigers. They could not believe their eyes witnessing this sight.

They rushed to their village, alerted the elders, arranged a palanquin, and brought the child boisterously to their village beating the drums. They made a mud mound, erected a shelter with twigs and leaves, and began to worship her as their Goddess of the Hill. Ever since the day the child arrived, every event was considered auspicious and every moment was happy for the villagers.

Soon, poisonous creatures and cruel beasts began to gather around the mound in utmost veneration. The Koya Doras were bewildered by these events and believed that the child was none other than their Goddess of the Hill. On the auspicious day of “Maagha Suddha Pournami”, they named the child Sammakka.

Soon the blessed child became popular for her mystic powers and compassion. According to local tradition, she was believed to caress tigers, adorn serpents as ornaments, heal incurable diseases, help the old, and bless childless couples with children. At her prime age, the blessed lass married Pagididda Raju, nephew of Meda Raju, the Koya ruler. The couple was blessed with two children, Saralamma and Jampanna.

The territory of Medaram came under the dynasty of the Kakatiya Sovereign. The Koya Tribal Chief “Meda Raju” ruled over his territory, and later Medaram came into the hands of Pagididda Raju as his successor.

During his rule, a devastating drought hit the area for four consecutive years, one after another, and ruined everything. The people were unable to pay the taxes. Pagididda Raju became distressed and refused to pay the taxes. The Emperor Pratapa Rudra then waged a war and sent troops to suppress the rebellion. Prime Minister Yugandhara led the army with full-fledged warfare tactics.

The battle was fierce, and the great warriors Pagididda Raju, his daughter Saralamma, and his brother Govinda Raju died on the battlefield. Jampanna, the great warrior, jumped into the “Sampenga Vagu” and sacrificed his life as he failed to stop the enemy forces from entering Medaram. Henceforth, the “Sampenga Vagu” became known as “Jampanna Vagu”.

The defeated Koya army approached Rani Sammakka and pleaded for compensation for the dead ones. Rani Sammakka rejected their proposal and herself plunged into the battlefield at once. Rani Sammakka fought with great courage and strength against the enemy forces.

She drew her sword and fought bravely against the enemy soldiers. Believing that they might lose the battle, a soldier assaulted her with a spear from behind. Rani Sammakka became helpless with the fatal wound and left the battlefield heading towards Chilkalagutta.

Few of her soldiers tracked her, but they missed her at the turning of a hilltop. Although they searched for a long while, they could not trace her. Near a tree usually called “Nemilie Nara Vruksha” by the local people, at the foot of an anthill, they found a yellow-coloured vermilion container known as a “Kumkuma Bharina”.

Believing that it was the tracking symbol of their beloved queen, they waited for her arrival for several days. As their hopes withered away, the tribal folk decided to commemorate her sacrifice by celebrating the occasion on the auspicious day of “Maagha Suddha Pournami” biennially from then onwards.

The women folk take part in this festival, where the yellow-coloured vermilion container is kept and worshipped as a sacred tradition. Soon after, the routine ritual in Medaram village developed into a grand festival celebrated on a large scale.

During the festivity, devotees and traditional worshippers perform various rituals and amazing feats. Childless women gather around the sacred mound and offer various gifts and prayers seeking the blessings of Sammakka and Saralamma.

Devotees who have fulfilled their vows offer gold in the form of jaggery, known as “Bangaram”, sometimes equivalent to their weight. They also offer money, silver, and even gold to the goddesses as a mark of devotion and gratitude.