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Renuka

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For other uses, see Renuka (disambiguation).

Renuka
Goddess of the Fallen[1]
Renuka
The Mahur shrine of Renuka, venerated as a Shakti Pitha in Shaktism
Devanagariरेणुका
Sanskrit transliterationRénûka
AffiliationDevi
RegionIndia
Genealogy
ConsortJamadagni
ChildrenṚumaṇvān, Suhotra, Vasu, Viśvāvasu, Parashurama[2]

Renuka, also known as Yellamma, is a Hindu mother goddess worshipped predominantly in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the western state of Maharashtra.[3] She is the mother of Parashurama, the sixth avatar of the god Vishnu. She was given the name "Renuka" and acquired the status of a mother goddess before eventually being associated with the legend of Parashurama.[4]

Names

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Renuka is venerated by a number of different appellations such as Yellamma, Ekvira, Yamai, Ellai Amman, Padmakshi Renuka, and Ellai Amma Mahar and is worshipped as the goddess of the fallen in the Hindu pantheon. Her devotees revere her as the "Mother of the universe" or Jagadamba. [citation needed]

Other names for Yellamma include Mariamma, Chaniamma, Gangamma, and Kariyamma.[5]

Legends

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Legends about Renuka are mentioned in the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, and in the Bhagavata Purana.[6]

Renuka Sagara, Malaprabha River, Saundatti. (Belgaum District), North Karnataka, Karnataka

There are four incarnations of Adi parashakti (Kamakshi in Kanchi[7]) is worshipped. Vishalakshi in North Kashi,[8] Renukakshi[3] (Padmakshi) in West Alibag also known as padmakshi renuka of Konkan,[clarification needed] Meenakshi[9] in South in Madurai also known as Meena and Bahulakshi[10] in East.

Early life

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Renuka's father, King Renu, performed a yajna – a ritual performed to maintain peace and good health. He was blessed with a daughter, who originated from the fire of this yajna. Renuka was a bright and active child and became the most beloved child of her parents.

When she was eight, Agastya, the guru of King Reṇu, advised him to have his daughter married to Jamadagni when she reached maturity. Jamadagni was the son of Ruchika and Satyavati and had obtained the blessings of the gods by performing severe penance. Renuka helped Jamdagni in all of his tasks of performing various rituals and puja. After a while, Renuka was blessed with a daughter called Anjana. Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the Malaprabha River with complete concentration and devotion. Her devotion was so powerful that she was able to create a pot to hold water made only of sand, one fresh pot every day. She would fill this pot on the bank of the river and would use a snake which was nearby, turning it into a rope-like convolution and placing it on her head, so that it supported the pot. Thus, she brought the water to Jamdagni for his rituals of oblation.

Married life

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Renuka gave birth to five sons: Ṛumaṇvān, Suhotra, Vasu, Viśvāvasu, and Rama Bhargava.[11] Rama Bhargava was the youngest and most beloved, gaining the favour of Shiva and Parvati. Rama performed severe penance and was bestowed with an axe (parashu), and was henceforth called as Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Vishnu).[12] One day, when Renuka went to the river, she saw a king make love to his wives. She was captivated by the sight, as a result of which she lost her concentration and devotion to her husband for a moment. As she was distracted, she lost her power of collecting water in unbaked pots, which she had gotten from her chastity. She lost the water that she had collected. Disappointed by this, she returned to the ashram in worry. Jamadagni had seen these events through his yogic power and was furious when she came back to the ashram.[13]

After being cursed by her husband, Renuka went east and sat in the forest to meditate. In her penance, she met with the saints Eknath[14] and Joginath; and requested them to gain the mercy of her husband. They first consoled her and then instructed her to follow their advice exactly as told. They told her to purify herself, first bathing in a nearby lake, and then to worship a Shivalinga, which they had given to her. Next, she was asked to visit the nearby town and beg for rice from the houses (this ritual, called "Joga Bedodu", is still carried out by women during a particular month in Karnataka/ "Jogawa" in Marathi, "Yellamma Jogu" in Telangana).

After collecting the rice, she was to give half to the saints and cook the remaining half, adding jaggery, partaking of the cooked rice with full devotion. They said that if she performed this ritual for three days, she would be able to visit her husband on the fourth day.

Yellamma temple at Badami.

Knowing the anger of Jamadagni, they warned her that she may not be fully pardoned by him and that she would have to experience the most difficult time of her life for a few minutes. "After that," they said, "you will be eternally revered and will be blessed with your husband. You will be worshipped by all the people henceforth." After blessing her thus, they disappeared. Renuka followed their instructions with devotion and worshipped the Shivalinga with reverence. On the fourth day, she went to see her husband.

Decapitation and resurrection

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Jamadagni was still furious with Renuka and ordered his elder four sons to kill his wife, but all of them refused to kill their mother. Jamadagni cursed his four sons and reduced them to ashes for disobeying his order. Then, Jamadagni called his fifth son Parashurama, who was meditating on Shiva, and ordered him to behead Renuka. Parashurama immediately obeyed his father's words and beheaded his mother with his axe. Jamadagni was pleased by Parashurama's devotion and obedience towards him.

Renuka temple at Yallammagudi, Saundatti (Belgaum District). North Karnataka, Karnataka

He then offered a boon to Parushurama, who wisely asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life. Jamadagni was impressed by Parshuram's pragmatism and brought Renuka and her four sons back to life. Jamadagni felt strong remorse for what he had done to his beloved and compassionate wife. He then vowed not to get angered ever again and gave up krodha forever.

Disappearance

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According to one legend, the emperor Sahastarva wanted to marry Renuka. When Parashuram was away, Sahastarva killed Jamadagni and his four sons and then Renuka jumped in the pond known as Ramsarover. This lake is today venerated as Renuka Sanctuary.[15]

A version among Deori people states that Jamadagni asked his sons to kill Renuka to prove their obedience before bringing her back to life.[16]

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Renuka as Ellai Amman, Chennai

One of the famous temples of Balkampet Yellamma Temple, located in the Balkampet neighbourhood of Hyderabad where every year in the Ashadha month Yellamma Kalyanothsavam is celebrated with thousands of pilgrims performing special rituals to receive the goddess's blessing. The statue of the goddess is 10 feet deeper than the ground level. There is also a well in the Balkampet Yellamma temple complex and some devotees believe that the water in the well heals all ills. Taking a bath here is supposed to purify one of all disorders and skin diseases.[17] This holy water is called 'tirtham'. An Akhand Jyoti is also present in the temple that was lit during the renovation.

Every year, there is a gathering of 200,000 to 600,000 devotees at the Yellamma Gudi temple (Yellamma Temple) in Saundatti.[18][19]

Another temple Renukambe [Yellamma] is atop a hill in Chandragutti, Soraba Taluk in Shimoga. This temple is an example of ancient architecture and dates back to the Kadamba period. Another temple is in Mahur, Maharashtra, the supposed birthplace of the goddess, which finds mention in Devi Gita, the final chapter of Devi Bhagawatam as, "Matripura in the Sahyadri mountain; here the Devi Renuka dwells".[20]

Another temple of Devi is at Dhamnand-Posare, Taluka Khed, Maharashtra known as "Devi Yalubai".[21]

Renugambal Amman Temple Padavedu, Thiruvannamalai District

In Tamil Nadu, Renugambal Amman Temple (it is Kuladaivam for Jambu Maharishi (Jamadagini) gotra Vanniyars), Senguntha Muthaliyars and other communities' people tracing their origin in that locality. The temple is situated in Padavedu, Thiruvannamalai District and it is one of the most important Sakthi Sthalas, another temple is located at Manthangal village, Ranipet district, Tamilnadu. The presiding deity here is called Kondi Amman (worshipped by Pokanati Reddys settled from the Carnatic-Andhra regions).[22]

Renuka Lake in Himachal Pradesh

Renuka Lake in the Renuka Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh is named after the goddess. According to one legend, the Haihaya King Sahasrarjuna (Kartavirya Arjuna) wanted the Kamadhenu cow from Jamadagni and Renuka. So for this he killed Jamadagni, and Renuka jumped into pond here along with Jamadagni at Renuka, Sirmour (Himachal Pradesh).[15][23]

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  • Sri Renukadevi Mahathme, a Kannada film released in 1977 in which B.Saroja devi played the title role; Sri Renuka Devi(2003), another Kannada film in which Soundarya played the role of Goddess Renuka.
  • The Marathi film "Jai Renuka Devi Yellamma" from 1985 is a notable full-length feature about Goddess Renuka Devi.
  • The TV serial "Udho Udho Shri Renuka Yellamma" is available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar is also about Renuka Devi, the avatar of Goddess Parvati.[24]   
  • For the past 40 years, Padma Shri Awardee Manjamma Jogathi has been practicing the Jogathi folk dance form. In a distinctive performance, Manjamma dances with the metal-crafted Yellamma deity positioned on her head.[25]
  • The Jogappa community comprises transgender individuals devoted to serving Goddess Renuka Yellamma.[26] According to folklore, members of the Jogappa community are regarded as being spiritually wedded to the goddess. These trans women willingly devote themselves to Goddess Renuka Yellamma during their transformation, following a cultural tradition observed in different regions of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and neighboring areas.[27] Accompanied by the melodious tones of Chowdki and Shruthi, we sing and perform the legend of the Goddess, seeking alms. As we share the tale of the revered deity through our performance, people perceive us not only as conveyors of her spirit but also as messengers and voices sharing her life story.[28][29]
  • Jogathi Nruthya, a ritualistic performance dedicated to the Goddess Yellamma, is practiced by the Jogathi community. This folk form, also known as Yellammaanata, is observed by individuals from the Devadasi and Jogathi (transgender) communities in Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Ballari. It is intricately tied to the worship of Goddess Renuka Yellamma and maintains profound connections with marginalized communities.[30] Bengaluru-born filmmaker and artist Shilpa Mudbi is currently engaged in documenting Yellammaanata, a traditional art form practiced by the Devadasi and Jogathi communities in Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Ballari.[31]

See also

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Further reading

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  • The Village Gods of South India (London, 1921) by H. Whitehead
  • Yellamma: A Goddess of South India (1995) by Channappa Uttangi
  • Given to the Goddess: South Indian Devadasis and the Sexuality of Religion (2004) by Lucinda Ramberg
  • Melissa Hope Ditmore, ed. (2006). Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work: A-N. Vol. 1. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 103–104. ISBN 9780313329685.

References

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  1. ^ Thallam, Sarada (6 January 2017). Rajam Krishnan and Indian Feminist Hermeneutics. Cambridge Scholars. ISBN 9781443864916.
  2. ^ "Story of Jamadagni". 28 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Sri Renuka Amman Parameswari". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. ^ Varadpande, Manohar Laxman (2009). Mythology of Vishnu and His Incarnations. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-212-1016-4.
  5. ^ Nagendra Singh (2006). Global Encyclopaedia of the South Indian Dalit's Ethnography. Vol. 1. Global Vision. p. 110. ISBN 9788182201675.
  6. ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt (11 July 2014). Myth = Mithya: Decoding Hindu Mythology. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-021-8.
  7. ^ Harshananda, Swami (2012). Hindu Pilgrimage Centres (second ed.). Bangalore: Ramakrishna Math. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-7907-053-6.
  8. ^ Bangala Bhasar Abhidhaan [Dictioanary of the Bengali Language], Kolkata: Shishu Sahitya Samsad, Volume 2, p.1600. (ed. 1988)
  9. ^ Harman, William P. (1992). The Sacred Marriage of a Hindu Goddess. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 24. ISBN 978-81-208-0810-2.
  10. ^ পাইন, সুগত (2021). নানারূপে সতীঅঙ্গ. p. 27.
  11. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Jamadagni". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  12. ^ Shah, Sunil A. (May 2010). "ચિરંજીવી, શૌર્યતા, જ્ઞાનના સંગમ સમાન ભગવાન પરશુરામ" [Ciran̄jīvī, śauryatā, jñānanā saṅgam samān Bhagavān Paraśurām]. Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  13. ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt (24 April 2003). Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-59477-558-1.
  14. ^ Chugh, Lalit (23 May 2017). Karnataka's Rich Heritage – Temple Sculptures & Dancing Apsaras: An Amalgam of Hindu Mythology, Natyasastra and Silpasastra. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-947137-36-3.
  15. ^ a b Yadav, Krishna (2010). The Royal Bargain. Har Anand. p. 119. ISBN 978-81-241-1530-5. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  16. ^ Behera, M.C. (1998). Pilgrim Centre Parashuram Kund: Articulation of Indian Society, Culture, and Economic Dimension. Commonwealth Publishers. p. 38. ISBN 978-81-7169-503-4.
  17. ^ Iyer, Lalita (7 April 2018). "Jala Durga at Balkampet fulfills all your desires". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Six lakh devotees throng Yellamma temple". The Hindu. 12 January 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Lakhs visit Yellamma temple on Bharat Hunnime fair". Deccan Herald. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Chapter XXXVIII: The Vow and the Sacred Places of the Devi". The Devi Gita [Song of the Goddess]. Excerpt from the Srimad Devi Bhagawatam. Translated by Swami Vijnanananda (Hari Prasanna Chatterji). 1921. O King of Mountains! Still, I am now telling something out of My affection to My Bhaktas. Hear.
  21. ^ "Devi Yalubai". Verses: 3-10. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ "Arulmigu Renugambal Amman Temple, A.K. Padavedu". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
  23. ^ Kohli, M. S. (2002). Mountains of India Tourism, Adventure, and Pilgrimage. Indus Publishing. p. 303. ISBN 978-81-7387-135-1.
  24. ^ "Devotional show Udho Udho Shri Renuka Yellamma marks 300 episodes milestone". The Times of India. 24 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  25. ^ "The Padma Shri for Manjamma Jogathi does her, her community and Karnataka proud". Frontline. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Jogappas, the Men Who Marry a Goddess to Become Women". The Wire. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Transgender folk dancer Manjamma Jogati receives Padma Shri | Watch". India Today. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Manjamma Jogati: The Story Of Transgender Folk Dancer Who Was Conferred The Padma Shri". IndiaTimes. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Latest in entertainment, lifestyle, fashion | t2ONLINE - Vibe With The tRIBE". www.t2online.in. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  30. ^ Madhukar, Jayanthi (8 March 2019). "Gender Roles Over Centuries". Deccan Chronicle.
  31. ^ "Shilpa Mudbi". DH Changemakers. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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  • Media related to Renuka at Wikimedia Commons
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