Vemalamma is a village deity worshipped mainly in Andhra
Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. She is associated with the neem tree – Vepa or
Vema. The Goddess is worshipped in the form of neem tree. In some regions the
murti (idols of Vemalamma) are placed beneath the neem tree.
Vemalamma is the deity that cures common diseases like
fever, cough, cold, infection, chicken pox, small pox etc.
When villages are inflicted with contagious diseases, the
villagers turn to Vemalamma for protection.
Symbolically, the deity represents the various medicinal
property of the neem tree.