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.

Situated on the banks of the Godavari River and amidst dense forests, Medaram has been a habitation of the indigenous Koya Dora Tribal people since the 10th century. One day, while hunting in the dense forest, the Koya people discovered a newborn infant surrounded by tigers and radiating divine light. Astonished by this miraculous sight, they brought the child to their village with great celebration. They built a mud mound, arranged a shelter with twigs and leaves, and began worshipping her as their Goddess of the Hills.

From the time the child arrived, the villagers witnessed many auspicious events and believed her to be a divine incarnation. On the auspicious day of “Maagha Suddha Pournami”, they named the child Sammakka. She soon became renowned for her mystic powers and compassion. According to local tradition, she was believed to possess divine abilities, heal incurable diseases, help the elderly, and bless childless couples with children. At her prime age, Sammakka married Pagididda Raju, the nephew of Meda Raju, the Koya ruler. The couple was blessed with two children, Saralamma and Jampanna.

The Medaram territory came under the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty. The Koya Tribal Chief Meda Raju ruled the territory, and later Medaram came under the rule of Pagididda Raju. During his reign, a devastating drought continued for four consecutive years, causing severe hardship and leaving the people unable to pay taxes. Pagididda Raju refused to pay the taxes, which resulted in a conflict with the Kakatiya Emperor Pratapa Rudra. The Emperor sent an army led by Prime Minister Yugandhara to suppress the rebellion.

A fierce battle took place, during which Pagididda Raju, Saralamma, and Govinda Raju lost their lives. Jampanna, a great warrior, sacrificed his life by jumping into the Sampenga Vagu after failing to stop the enemy forces from entering Medaram. Since then, the stream came to be known as “Jampanna Vagu”.

After the death of her family members, Rani Sammakka entered the battlefield and fought bravely against the enemy forces. She fought with great courage and strength but was eventually seriously wounded by a spear attack from behind. With a fatal wound, she left the battlefield towards Chilkalagutta. Her followers searched for her but could not trace her.

Near a tree locally known as “Nemilie Nara Vruksha”, at the foot of an anthill, they found a yellow-coloured vermilion container known as a “Kumkuma Bharina”. Believing it to be a sacred symbol and a tracking sign of their beloved queen Sammakka, they waited for her return for several days. When she did not return, the tribal people decided to commemorate her sacrifice by celebrating the occasion on the auspicious day of “Maagha Suddha Pournami” once every two years.

The Medaram Jathara gradually became a grand festival celebrated with traditional rituals and devotion. Women actively participate in the festival and continue the tradition of worshipping the sacred Kumkuma Bharina. During the festivities, devotees perform various traditional rituals and seek the blessings of Sammakka and Saralamma.

Childless women visit the sacred mound and offer prayers and gifts seeking the blessings of the goddesses. Devotees who have fulfilled their vows offer jaggery (Bangaram), money, silver, and even gold as offerings. The Medaram Jathara continues to stand as a significant tribal festival, commemorating the courage, sacrifice, and divine presence of Sammakka and Saralamma.