RENUKA (YELLAMMA)
Renuka (rENukA) (ರೇಣುಕಾ) and Yellamma (Yellamma)
(ಯಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ) are the variants used to denote a
folk Goddess who presides over the temple in Savadatti and Chandragutti
temples. She is pan Indian Goddess because her temples are found in different
parts of
Renuka
is originally supposed to be a Jaina Goddess even though all evidences linking
her to that religion are now extinct and she is essentially a Hindu Goddess. It
is said that Seetha and Draupadi belonging to earlier eras have found in
Yellamma, their counter part of Kaliyuga. Another tradition links her to Renuka
the mother of Parashurama and wife of Jamadagni. According to the Veerashaiva
tradition Renuka is a daughter of a rich Veerashaiva landlord of UgurukoLLa
village. She was cured of Lukoderma by
two saints named ekkayya and jOgayya. She adopts the religion and stays on the hill.
She is also known as satayakka and ELu guDDada yellamma. The story of Renuka is
an interesting combination of history and mythology.
Howeevr
she is now worshipped mainly by a number of devotees belonging to the ‘socially
out cast and oppressed’ communities. She is also asociated with the jOgiti
samprdAya which again is linked with the dEvadAsi tradition.
The
Yellamma temple at Savadatti is situated at a distance of about eight
kilometers from the town on the top of Ramalinga hill. An inscription dated
1514 A.D. found here mentions the temple. Architectural eveidences sugest that
this could belong to the seventh or eighth century. Lakhs of people visit this
place on the occasion of banada huNNime and BArati huNNime.
Yellamma is
inevitably associated with the jOgiti tradition. There are families and
communities that have deep religious ties with this Goddess. Occasionally,
families take an oath to devote the entire life of a girl or a boy belonging to
their clan in the service of Yellamma. Such people called jOgamma and jOgappa
respectively. jOgappa dons the dress of a woman with anklets and other
paraphernalia and adopts a mendicant life. He travels with a decorated ‘jaga’
(bindige, a vessel) on his head and asks
for alms. jOgamma puts on an yellow gown, These devotee are allowed to marry.
Sometimes jOgappa is converted in to a eunuch. This pracitice is widely
prevalent in backward and oppressed communities. The nude worship in
Chandragutti is another customary practice that has drawn a lot of attention.
It is now prohihbited by the Govenment of Karnataka. There are many ritualistic
practices such as konDa(walikng on cinders) and siDi (slitting one’s back with
a hook and going round in circle atop a pole)
There is
an oral epic that documents the story of Yellamma. This is sung by professional
singier communities such as gondaliga, jOgiyaru, nIlagAra, chaVDike meLa etc.
Songs and legends about this Godess are being collected.
Further Reading and links:
1.
Renuka
2.
www.shimogaonline.com/soraba.htm
3.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renuka