Sammakka Saralamma Temple is dedicated to two brave tribal
women and is located at Medaram near Warangal. The shrine is also known as
Sammakka Sarakka temple and is dedicated to Mother and Daughter. Medaram is
located around 90 km from Warangal. The shrine is believed to have been built
during the 12th century AD.
Sammakka was discovered as playing among tigers as a new
born by the leaders of koya tribe.
The head of the tribe adopted her and she was later married
to a feudatory tribal chief.
The couple had three children – Sarakka, Nagulamma and
Jampanna.
Once the tribes of the region were unable to pay tax and
they entered into a conflict with the then Kakatiya King. In the battle, the
tribal chief was killed. Sammakka lost her three children too.
Upon hearing the loss of her children and husband, she
entered the battle and fought fiercely against the enemy. She was mortally wounded.
She cursed that the Kakatya dynasty would perish.
Mortally wounded Sammakka disappeared into the forest. The grieving
tribes searched the forest and found a red ochre box (a container of
vermilion), her bangles and the pug marks of a huge full grown tigress, exactly
the same place where she was found as a infant by the tribal men.
The Koya community constructed Sammakka Saralamma Temple
temple as a token of gratitude.
There are no deities in the temple. They are
brought from the forest during the annual Jatra festival.
The annual Sammakka Saralamma jatara is the largest tribal
festival in the world. The murtis of mother and daughter are brought from the
forest to the spot for a period of 10-12 days. Millions of people visit the
jatra. Pure jaggery, which is known as Bangaram, is offered to Sammakka and Sarakka.