Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam-Komuravelli

Komuravelli Mallanna Story- Marriage with Medalamma

Komuravelli 'Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam' is one of the prominent Siva temples in the northern Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. It is next to Rajarajeshwara Swamy Temple-Vemulawada and Mukteshwara Swamy Temple-Kaaleshwaram in popularity. The pilgrims often refer to the god as 'Komaravelli Mallana'. The temple is located in a cave on the 'Indrakeeladri' hillock at a distance of 110 Kms from warangal. The uniqueness of this temple is that the lord Shiva appears here in 'vigraha rupam'(statue) other than the usual 'linga rupam'. The temple is maintained by the Endowments Department of the state government. Every year Lakhs of pilgrims visit this temple on the eve of Makara Sankranthi because at this time of the year the Brahmotsavam starts in Komauravelli.It is believed that the deity of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy which is a clay molded is made around 500 years back. As the devotees started visiting the temple and as the rush increased the committee of the temple started developmental activities in the temple and made arrangements for the devotees and also built and renovated mandapamas and choultries, rest rooms, water facility etc. Pedda Patnam which is celebrated on the Maha Sivaratri usually attracts lakhs of pilgrims.Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam made provisions for the devotees to do online reservations for various pujas, offerings for annadanam and various other sevas. It is believed that the lord has married 'Gollakethamma' from Yadava community and 'Medalamma' from the Linga Balija community and settled here. So, both the goddesses are equally worshiped here. As a sentiment, the people from both Yadava and Balija communities head all the important rituals.

Komuravelli Mallanna Story- Marraige with Medalamma

There is no written scriptures are available on komuravelli mallanna (often refered as komurelli mallanna or komrelli mallanna) but there are so many folk lore available on komuravelli mallanna adventures which are said to be “oggu kathalu” sung by “oggu singers” .

In one of the stories it is said that komuravelli mallanna brought pasupu(sacred turmeric) and kumkum from macca (muslims holy place).

The story as follows..……(based on a video song)….

When mallanna wanted to marry medalamma, her brothers puts a condition that mallanna should bring bandari (hard turmeric or roots of turmeric i.e.”pasupu kommulu” which are in the possession of haseen and hussain in macca masjid that time) .In search of way for bandari komuravelli mallanna approaches God shiva. Lord shiva directs him to Lord Ganesha. Komuravelli mallanna goes to Ganesha and asks him about bandari, Lord Ganesha tells him that Mallanna’s sister “yellamma” knows the way to get it.

Then Komuravelli mallanna goes to yellamma and asks about bandari. Yellamma says that it is in macca. Mallanna prepares to go to macca but his sister “yellamma” warns him that macca is so far from here and men are very powerful there, it is impossible to beat them. They kept those things at a secret place that nobody knows it else them. Whoever went to there, they had not returned. Listening to this mallanna prays to gods, they gave him a flying horse. With that horse mallanna goes to macca. Before getting into makka he ties his horse outside the macca. He joins as gardener there and names himself  as malku malloji, he spends so many days there perhaps years. He gains their faith and muslims completely belives him. They tell him the identity of bandari. He goes to the place where it is, A five headed snake protects it. One day he took bandari and tries to run away, but muslims see him and tries to capture him. Mallanna escapes in disguise of a black dog though chased by the duo(haseen and hussain) till the banks of  rives Ganga. Goddess ganga looses her right hand when she confronted the duo and mallanna posts a stick as symbol of her hand and resolves to observe a ritual every year in the memory of goddess Ganga river. Then he returns to his hometown with the help of celestial horse. He gives some portion of bandari to yellamma and marries to medalamma.

As I know the ritual which is celebrated on Goddess ganga name is peerila festival. In some of stories, mallanna cuts one of duo hand in fighting and that hand five fingers stands for five peers in the yearly festival.

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