Bhaktikalpa

Sthalam

Yellama Devi Temple is located on top of a hill near Saundatti town Belgaum district ,Karnataka.The Renuka Devi Temple, or Yellamma Devi Temple (as it is more popularly known), is the most famous pilgrimage spot in Saundatti.Yellama Devi Temple is also known as The Renuka Devi Temple.The temple is dedicated to Goddesss Renuka also called as Yellamma and other deities are Lord Ganesh, Mallikarjuna, Parashurama, Eknaath and Siddheshwara

.People believe that the Goddess Renuka Devi is very powerful who eradicates and punishes ego at the same time more considerate about Human beings as her own children.Saundatti Yellamma Temple is built in the Chalukyan and Rashtrakuta Style of architecture and the Carvings indicate the Jain architecture.Shree Renuka or Yellamma devi temple, Bengaluru is not just the place for sightseeing, but it also enables you to steal a self-indulgent moment for yourself as well.

So, check out the shree renuka yellamma devi temple tourist spot for all the attractions that is on offer and visit this spot on weekends for a rejuvenating time.The Yellamma Temple is managed by the Government and it has made all provisions such as dharamshalas (free lodges), health centers and other facilities for devotees to feel at home.

The Yellamma Devi Fair is held every year at the Yellamma Devi Temple at Saundatti.The most surprising and intriguing fact is that thousands flog to the Yellama Temple to offer themselves to the age-old "Devdasi" system. The fair is organised five times between November and February, where jogathis (female) and jogappas (male) are taken in for God's service.

History of Yellama Devi Temple in Saundatti

The Yellamma Temple was constructed by Bommappa Naik of Raybag in the year 1514. The temple has shrines for Lord Ganesha, Mallikarjun, Parshuram, Eknath, and Siddheswara and many more. Ardent devotees from Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh come to worship during the time of Jatras that are held twice a year.

Legend has it that Goddess Yellamma, or Renuka Devi was the daughter of the King Renuka Raja. The king had performed a yagna or a ritual to maintain peace, health and harmony. The Gods, who were pleased with him, blessed him and bestowed on him a girl child through the yagna.

When Renuka Devi was just 8 years old, Saint Agasthya advised the king to get his daughter married to Saint Jamadagni. Jamadagni and Renuka Devi got married and they went to live in the Ramshrung Mountains. Renuka was a dutiful wife and helped Jamadagni in performing his daily puja and rituals. She used to wake up early, bathe in the Malapahari River, fill a pot with water which she used to make out of the sand near the river and then hold a snake and use it as a convolution to help hold the pot on her head, and use the water to assist Jamadagni in his rituals.

Eventually Renuka Devi gave birth to five sons, and Ramabhadra was the youngest and the most beloved of the lot. He was a devout son and he procured the blessings of Lord Shiva and Parvathi and they gifted him with the Ambikasthra and hence he was known as Parshuram. He destroyed evil Kshatriyas who were troubling innocent saints.

Once when Renuka Devi went to bathe in the river, she noticed some Gandharvas playing in the river and she fell into a reverie thinking of herself playing in the river with her husband. For a brief span, she had lost her concentration and devotion and found herself unable to shape a pot out of the river bank clay. Nor was she able to convolute the snake to hold the pot.

When she returned home empty handed, Jamadagni cursed her angrily and asked her to leave the place. After being cursed by her husband, she ventured towards the east and sat in deep meditation. In her dream, she met the saints Eknath and Joginath who advised her to on what to do for three days, to appease her husband.

They advised her to bathe in the nearby lake, and worship the Shiva linga they had given her. Then she was asked to go to the city and collect rice from the houses there. After collecting the rice, she was told to give them half of it, and then she was instructed to cook the remaining half of the rice with jaggery and to partake of it with full devotion. After three days of this ritual, she was supposed to return to her husband; they promised her that she would be eternally united with her husband and humanity would start worshipping her.

Just as they had instructed, Renuka, after performing these rituals, returned home on the fourth day. Jamadagni was still angry and he ordered his sons to behead her. While all four resisted, their father cursed them to turn into eunuchs. Parshuram obeyed his father and beheaded Renuka Devi but her head started multiplying and spreading in various directions.

Puranam

The legends of Renuka are contained in the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa and in the Bhagavata Purana.

Renuka/Renu or Yellamma or Ekvira or Ellai amman or Ellai amma (Marathi:श्री. रेणुका/ येल्लुआई, Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ಎಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ ರೇಣುಕಾ, Telugu : శ్రీ రేణుక/ ఎల్లమ్మ, Tamil: ரேணு/Renu) is worshipped as the goddess in the Hindu religion. Yellamma is the patron Goddess of the south Indian states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Her devotees revere her as the "Mother of the Universe" or "Jagadamba".

Renuka devi, the daughter of the king of Vidhrabha region in Maharashtra who is believed to be an incarnation of goddess Parvati in Kruthayuga. Prasnejit was the ruler from Suryavamsha Ikshvaaku dynasty ruling current place of Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. King was well known for his supremacy but he remained childless even after getting three wives.

This made king unhappy. Upon suggestion of Priests from his court he performed holy fire ritual for progeny. From the flames of fire there evolved a baby glittering like gold. King was so happy and thought the baby was a boon to him by goddess Durga. As baby was not born out of a womb of a female she is called as Ayonija and king named her as Renuka. As she was born out of fire she was even praised as Agnija. From her childhood onwards Renuka was spiritually advanced. She had learnt each and every art, a princess must know.

When Renuka reached age to marry Saint Agasthya advised Prasnejit to make Renuka married to saint Jamadhagni. Saint Jamadhagni was from lineage of Bhrigu Maharshi son of Sage Ruchika and Sathyavathi. He was known as one among the Saptharshis and was well known for his angry.

Sage can smash anyone who come to his notice by committing any mistake. Jamadhagni showed reluctance to marry Renuka as she was princess and can’t sustain in hermitage with utmost austerities. Renuka then lived in the hermitage for few days and proved herself to be capable to follow Ashrama rituals. Saint Jamadhagni accepted Renuka and married her in the presence of all Guru and Heavenly gods. Lord Indra gifted a celestial cow named Kamadhenu which can offer whatever we ask for.

One fine morning Renuka and Jamadhagni travelling along the banks of Kamandalu river. Suddenly a desire of copulation raised in Jamadhagni and thought to have in open area as it is barren place and no one could see. But Jamadhagni forgot the tradition that such act in presence of sun is a sin. Jamadhagni urged Renuka to walk fast but due to severe heat of sun she could not walk on sand. Saint got angry and asked Renuka for the reason and she replied the same. Then saint became furious and called cursed the sun god to loose his glory and become a diminished star. Sun reminded saint about the sin he committed and cursed the saint that he will be killed by a King.

Then saint Naradha came and pacified both of them and mitigated their curses that Sun will be attacked by Rahu and Ketu once in a year and loose his glory and king will be eventually killed by a king but his son would protect him. Sun also blesses Umbrella or Chathra and Chappal or Padhuka to mankind to protect them from his intense heat during summer (the first umbrella and Padhuka to mankind).

Description:

Varnam

This is one & the only ancient temple dedicated to mother Renuka in karnataka & maharashtra. Renuka was mother of Sri Parsuram & wife of great rushi Jamdagni. Their is an story associated with mother Renuka & this temple is supposed to have a holy water spring which keeps one away from all skin diseases

Comments

Meera Subramanian says,
The temple architecture and spiritual energy are amazing. Felt deeply connected.

Lakshmi Narayan says,
Every visit brings inner peace and strength. Jai Shri Ram ????

Suresh Kumar says,
The divine presence here is very powerful. A truly holy Swayambhu temple

Kavya Nair says,
Such a serene and spiritually uplifting temple. Felt calm and blessed.

Arjun Patel says,
A sacred place filled with devotion and history. Highly recommend visiting with family

Ananya Reddy says,
Blessed to have darshan here. The vibrations and positivity are beyond words.

Priya Iyer says,
An unforgettable spiritual experience. The atmosphere is so pure and peaceful.

Rahul Sharma says,
Felt divine energy as soon as I entered the temple. Truly a powerful Swayambhu kshetra. ????

Temple Timings

Sunday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Monday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Tuesday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Wednesday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Thursday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Friday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm
Saturday	6:30am–4:30pm, 6:30–10pm