Published: Published Date – 10:38 PM, Sat – 26 February 22
Warangal: Contrary to the popular legend that tribal goddesses Sammakka-Sarakka, mother and daughter, fought against the ‘tyrannical’ Kakatiyas and laid down their lives in the battle, the priests of Goddess Sammakka from Medaram and Team of Research on Culture and Heritage (TORCH), an voluntary organisation, are stressing the need for a detailed research to find out the truth behind the celebration of the Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka jatara, which is known as the Telangana’s Khumb Mela.
“There are many legends and myths in circulation about the relations between the Kakatiya rulers and our goddesses Sammakka-Sarakka. They are far from the truth as our ancestors never stated or mentioned anywhere about the so-called battle between Sammakka-Sarakka and the army of Prathaparudra, the king of the Kakatiyas. There is no historical or any other evidence to authenticate this legend. The history was distorted. In view of this, there is need for thorough research into the history to find the origin of the Goddesses Sammakka-Sarakka,” said Siddaboina Arun Kumar, the president of the Sammakka priests association.
Meanwhile, TORCH, secretary and history enthusiast Arvind Arya Pakide, who is a native of Jangaon district, met the descendants of the Kakatiya rulers of Orugallu, who have been residing in Jagdalpur of the Chhattisgarh State since the fall of the Kakatiya kingdom, on February 25 (Friday) night and handed over the ‘Saare’ (A gift containing a saree, blouse pieces and others which are offered to daughters by parents).
“The priests of Sammakka have sent the Saare to the Kakatiya descendants to put an end to the legend that there was a fight between the Sammakka-Sarakka and the Kakatiya rulers which is lacking proper evidence. Maharaja Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo, a descendant of Kakatiya, and his family members received the Saare on Friday,” Aravind told ‘Telangana Today’.
“Following the fall of the Kakatiya empire, some of the Prataparudra’s family members reached Dandakaranya on an adventurous journey along the banks of the Godavari. As Kakatiya’s successor, Annamadev established a new empire centered at Jagdalpur. Annamadev was also confirmed as the Kakatiya’s successor by the British historical researchers. Maharaja Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo is currently continuing in Annamadev’s lineage. In the absence of a monarchy, the Jagdalpur fort is home to the Kakatiya traditions and glories of local festivals,” Arvind, who met Chandra Bhanj Deo, several times in the past.
“Danteshwari Mata, popularly known as Shakti Peetha, is the deity of the Kakatiya descendants there. There are also claims that the Bastar region is the birthplace of Sammakka. Sammakka is worshipped as ‘Saduvali’ here in Dandakaranya,” said Aravind.
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