Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/txZ4XBu5KEM
Location: “Sri Sammakka Saralamma Devasthanam, Medaram, Medaram, Telangana 506344”
References: https://warangaltourism.in/sammakka-saralamma-temple-warangal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammakka_Saralamma_Jatara
https://mulugu.telangana.gov.in/tourist-place/medaram-jathara/
Medaram is a village in Mulugu district in Telengana,
and is famous for the Sammakka Sarakka
Jatara religious festival which takes place once every 2 years (biennial). Held
by the forest dwelling Koya tribe of Telengana and surrounding states, the
festival is the biggest Tribal festival in Asia which is attended by almost 2
crore people on an average, to honour the goddess Sammakka and her daughter
Sarakka. Several communities in Telangana society support Jatara as it is also
a story of two tribal women leaders who fought against the Kakatiya rulers who
tried to annex their land and forests. According to the story it was Sammakka’s
curse which caused gradual decline and death of Kakatiya rule. Sammakka
and her daughter saramma protesting there tribal lands and forest.
Although the population of Medaram is hardly 300, but
for the festivals almost crores of people assimilate biennially.
The festival is conducted in the Medaram Sammakka
Saralamma Devasthanam and Jampanna Vagu, which is the ghat on the banks of the
tributary of river Godavari.
Sammakka
Sarakka Jatara
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara
is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of
Telangana, India. The Jatra begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal in Mulugu
district.It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and
Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law. It is believed that
after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees
in the country. It is celebrated in Medaram during the time the goddesses of
the tribals is believed to visit them. Medaram is a remote place in the
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving
forest belt in the Mulugu.
There are many legends about the miraculous
powers of sammakka. According to a tribal story, about 6-7 centuries ago,that
is in the 13th century, some tribal leaders who went for a hunting found a new
born girl (Sammakka) emitting enormous light playing amidst tigers. She was
taken to their habitation . The head of the tribe adopted her and brought up as
a chief tain (She later became the saviour of the tribals of the region) she
was married to Pagididda Raju a feudatory tribal chief of Kakatiyas(who ruled
the country of Andhra from Warangal City between 1000 AD and 1380 AD).She was
blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna
respectively.
Jampanna vagu
Jampanna vagu is a tributary to River
Godavari. According to the history, Jampanna is the tribal warrior and the son
of Tribal Goddess Sammakka. The Jampanna vagu took his name as he died in a
battle fighting against Kakatiyan Army in that stream. The Jampanna vagu is
still red in colour marked with the blood of Jampanna (Scientifically the red
colour of the water is attributed to the soil composition). Tribal’s believe
that taking a holy dip in the red water of Jampanna Vagu reminds them the
sacrifice of their gods who save them and also induces courage into their
souls. There is a bridge constructed on top of Jampanna Vagu, known as Jampanna
Vagu bridge.
SAMMAKKA
SARALAMMA TEMPLE
The Sammakka Saralamma temple is the tribal temple of
Medaram, where the festival of Medaram Jatara takes place. The main deity of
the temple is being the two brave women who became martyrs after the battle for
their community’s rights against the Kakatiya rulers.
When we went to Medaram, we had no idea about the
temple. On entering the temple, you will view three to four guarded trees
(representing Sammakka and her sons and daughters) being worshipped, a typical
trait of how Tribal worship used to take place during the Vedic period. It was
a unique experience and was worth visiting.
Timings:
Monday to Sunday: 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
There is no Entry Fee
How
to Reach:
By
Rail: Nearest railway stations are kazipet (94 KMs) and
Warangal. Buses ply from there to Medaram regularly.
By
Road: During Medaram Jatara, buses are available from across
Telengana as well as from nearby states like Andhra, Chattisgarh and
Maharashtra too. Medaram now has a TSRTC bus stand and interstate buses ply
between various cities to Medaram too.
By
Air: Vijayawada
airport is around 288 KMs while Hyderabad airport is around 263 KMs
Nearby
Places to Visit:
·
Pandavula Guhalu
·
Mylaram Caves
·
Ramappa temple
·
Ramappa Lake
·
Bogatha Waterfall
·
Mallur Kshetram Hanuman Temple
·
Sammakka Saralamma Temple
·
Sri Ramlingeswara Swamy Temple
·
Shri Hemachala Temple, Mallur
·
Devinigutta temple (Kothur Village, then 1 hour walk
through the jungles)
·
Laknavaram Lake
·
Ganapeshwaralayam (Kota Gullu)
Stay
options:
If you are going purely for visiting Medaram temple,
there is a Haritha Government resort at Medaram which is really good. Otherwise
staying options can be Tadvai, Warangal too. There are accommodations available
also near Ramappa temple too.
Parking
and Photography
There is a big ground for parking on the back of the
temple. No issues with parking
Photography is completely allowed. Use drone at a
higher height and from a distance, so that no one will observe.