Shree Yallamma Devi Temple Jat, Jat, sangli

Yallamma means the mother of all. In the Shakta tradition, the Yallamma sect has come to be recognized as an independent branch. In earlier times, vows were made to offer children to the Goddess. These children offered to the Goddess are called Jogte and Jogtini. They are the primary preachers of this sect. Along with Maharashtra, there are thousands of devotees of Yallamma Devi in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Consequently, there are many temples of the Goddess in these regions. One of the ancient and famous temples among these is in the city of Jat. The Khillar cattle fair held here is famous throughout the country. It involves a turnover of hundreds of millions. 

Just as we have the Saptamatrika (Seven Mothers), they are called ‘Yolumata’ in Karnataka. It is said that ‘Yallamma’ is likely a corrupted form of this name. Since the stories of Renuka and Yallamma are similar in the south, it is believed that Yallamma is a form of Renuka herself. The ‘Bavnid’ class of the Madiga community in Andhra Pradesh are devotees of Jogulamba. The songs they sing to the accompaniment of a drum called Jamdika are referred to there as the ‘Story of Yallamma’ or the ‘Story of Renuka’. The main Shakti Peetha of the Goddess is located on Yallamma Hill, five kilometers from Saundatti village in the state of Karnataka. 

The legend of Yallamma Devi in Jat is that individuals from the Hada Chauhan dynasty, originally from Rajasthan, came to the south and obtained the fiefdom of Dhafale village, becoming famous by the name Dhafale. King Ramraje Dhafale of the Jat princely state, belonging to this Dhafale family, was a staunch devotee of Yallamma Devi of Saundatti. He used to travel on horseback to visit the Goddess on the hill in Saundatti, which is about 180 kilometers away from here. As he aged, this journey became difficult for him. He then requested the Goddess to come to his village. The Goddess’s procession began to follow the King after she said, “I will come to your village in a palanquin, but I will be established at the very place where you look back while walking ahead.” When the King reached the place where the temple currently stands and looked back, the Goddess was established right there. The King built the temple of the Goddess here. 

It is said that the current temple is about 400 years old. There is a simple welcome arch on the road leading to the temple. A short distance from here is the temple courtyard. There are huge banyan trees in this courtyard. There are three temples on a high platform in the courtyard. The Yallamma Devi temple consists of a Sabha Mandapa (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In front of the entrance to the Sabha Mandapa, there are four steps about twenty feet long. The Sabha Mandapa is completely open in nature and has ten square pillars on the outer side. All the pillars are connected to each other by semi-circular arches. There is an arrangement for a queue for darshan in the Sabha Mandapa. In the Sabha Mandapa, in front of the Garbhagriha, flour and baskets of salt are kept on a table. Devotees coming for darshan offer flour and salt in these baskets. Currency coins are nailed onto the wooden door frames and the lintel of the Garbhagriha. There is an idol of Ganapati on the central decorative block. In the Garbhagriha, the idol of Yallamma Devi is on a Vajrapitha (diamond pedestal). This idol is extremely elegant and well-defined. The Goddess is adorned with fine garments and ornaments. There is a silver crown on the head of the Goddess and a peacock feather fan behind the idol.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery