Information of Yellamma Devi Temple (Renuka Temple), Saundatti, Belgaum, Karnataka

Yellamma Devi Temple is a historical and socio-religious temple located at Saundatti Town, Belgaum District of Karnataka State in India. Locally this temple is called as the Renuka Devi. This temple is famously known for practicing the Deva Dasi customs from the ancient times. This is a customs and it is not practiced in India after independence. The story behind this customs was followed by a sect of Hindu peoples who offer a girl child to this temple. She becomes the temple property and does all works related to this temple and take part in the festivals as main ritual performers. They were also exploited by the rich classes. They never marry and have to dedicate her life in serving the Renuka Devi in this temple. This is a great place for women's as the main ditty is of a mother goddess. This is also an ancient temple, which was later developed in to big structure. The Yellamma Jatre is celebrated in between the August and September month. This festival is very grandly celebrated and devotees from the neighboring state of Maharashtra do visit here. It has a record of more than 10 lakhs visitors early in this temple.

Yellamma Devi Temple Religious Significance

Yellamma Devi is a patronage of Kali. It is worshiped by women's mostly. But this Devi is also a well wisher of all devotees. This Devi is known to be a powerful and visiting this temple with a strong devotion will bring all your wishes come true. The month of August is a great time for women's to visit this temple. Since, it is a month for women's to keep vreath and practice few customer rituals in this temple. Presently the Deva-Dasi customs is not followed, but one can find the decedents of this Dasi class near this temple.

Yellamma Devi Temple Mythology & History

As per the Vedic inscriptions, Yellamma is the mother of great sage known as the Parashuram. The main deity found here will be having a head portion only. A story is behind this, Renuka Devi was a wife of a saint, and she was cursed by him and asked to be punished by his son. Here Parashuram cut her head and with his powers he created many heads of her mother and thrown down sat many place of this south region. That's why this temple has a big head statue as its main deity of worship.

Yellamma Devi Temple Architectural Significance

This temple is a splendid stone structure constructed in the Rashtrakut and Chalyukya forms of temple architecture. It is very pleasant to look with a minaret (Tower) and a square structure forming the main temple. The temple is well fenced with thick walls. It has got a beautiful step shaped pond near built near this temple. Most of the devotees take bath here and come to this temple. This temple has an arched main entrance. Inside you can find few mini structures which are having the deity's of Eknatha, Mallikarjuna, Sage Parashuram, Sideshwara and Lord Vinayaka. These deities are beautifully carved on monolith stones. Its main deity is a stone sculptor on head portion only. It is seen in well dressed and ornate in this temple. The main deity is placed under the minaret structure. It minaret is very uniquely carved in a pyramid like structure. These are rising in height in a step formation. There are many miniature works found here. Inside this temple complex a huge Deepa Stambha (Lamp Tower) is carved of granite stone. It looks very beautiful in cubic designs holding the lamps on a stone stand. Its walls too have large oil lamps, which are lit on the festival occasions only.