Yellamma Thota: Abode of the Mother Goddess

Visakhapatnam: Yellamma is a popular goddess often referred to as Jagadamba. Usually, the temples dedicated to Yellamma were always found outside the town or settlement in groves, where on the occasion of Naga Panchami during the Sravana Masam, Hindus from all walks of life conduct a special puja to the Nagadevata who represents fertility and vigour.The Yellamma Thota Jatara, however takes place in the month of December and is one of the most popular ones in the region.
Nobody is really sure since when the Yellamma Thota Jatara and shrine existed. However, a lot of old timers believe that the Yellamma Thota predates the British colonial period. Also referred to as Jagadamba, Yellamma is one of the local deities of Vizag. Old timers also agree that the worship of Mother Goddess Yellamma in the North Coastal region became very popular after the fall of the Nagas who ruled over modern day Bastar and southern parts of Central India.
According to legend, the Chalukyas who defeated the Nagas in the 12th century forced the latter into slavery and virtually wiped them out as an ethnic entity. Having fallen from their high and noble place society, the Nagavamsa women were literally sold away as slaves while most of their men folk were slaughtered. Even today in north coastal AP, parts of Telanagana and Rayalaseema, members of various Hindu communities carry the Gotra Nagavamsa and trace their descent to the ancient Naga clan.
According to P L Narayana an anthropologist, "Most of the people who carry the Nagavamsa Gotra consider Yellamma their Mother Goddess as she was considered the Goddess of the fallen ( in spirit)." He further noted that it was during this period that a number of communities arose in southern Karnataka and combined AP. "Children born to these Naga women were later incorporated into society as members of various communities which prior to the Chalukya period did not exist. However, some were soon incorporated into the local communities."
History buff BS Mahesh pointed out, "The Yellamma Thota was situated outside the premises of the town as the Jatara was reputedly quite a big affair with people from different castes coming together to seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess. The Jatara was also a fest conducted in true festive spirit."
Today, Goddess Yellamma, who was much worshipped as the forgiving Mother Goddess, herself faces various problems. Much of the land originally owned by the temple has been grabbed by local people and the area once known as Yellamma Thota is today referred to by a different name of the same goddess, Jagadamba.