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Sri Tataiahgunta Gangamma Temple History
Sri Tataiahgunta Gangamma is Grama devatha of Tirupati town. Once upon a time when Tirupati and surrounding areas are ruled by “Palegondulu”, harassment on women was enormous, they use to rape and harass any woman seen.
It is said that, Gagamma is prayed to in two names. One is called Tallapaka Gangamma and the second one is called Tatayya Gunta Gangamma.The temple of Tallapaka Gangamma is on the banks of Tallapaka lake. She is also called Pedda Gangamma. The Tatayya Gunta Gangamma templeis between Mallayya Gunta and Tatayya Gunta and she is renowned as Chinna Gangamma.
During this time in a village “Avilala” the Godess Gangamma was born and grown as most beautiful women. When the Palegondulu went to the Goddess Gangamma with bad intention, she with her grace and power tried to kill him fearing her, Palegondulu was hidden in a remote place.
To take him out of hide the Gangamma planned “Ganga Jathra” where the people in Tirupathi do vichitra veshadarana and curse Gangamma for a period of 8 days. On the seventh day the”Palegondulu” comes out from hidden place and was killed by Godess Gangamma for the “LokaKalyanam”.
Ganga Jathara
Gangamma Jatara is a very famous local festival for the People of Tirupati. It is done every year in month of May. As the Gangamma temple was in banks of Thathaya gunta, the temple is famous as “Thathaya Gunta Gangamma Temple”.
The eight day festivities start with Chatimpu on day 1. It is an announcement made around the Tirupati about the beginning of the Jatara. The drums are played in declaring the start of the event.
On day 2, the devotees attire as Bairagi covering their faces with white paste and they garland themselves with rella kaya. They dispose them off at the temple after the darshan of the Mother.
On day 3, the devotees wear the attire called Banda attire. They anoint paste of Kumkum and tie a ribbon to their head.
On day 4, the devotees perform Thota Vesham. They cover their bodies with charcoal and wear neem garland.
On day 5, the Dhora Vesham is performed. They smear their bodies with sandalwood paste and wear neem leaves garland.
On day 6, the Mathangi Vesham the devotees comfort the wife of the Palegadu who had been killed by the Mother on the previous day in Dhora attire.
On day 7, the devotees smear their bodies with white paste and apply charcoal dots. It is called Sunnapu Kundalu attire. They carry a pot on their head. They leave the pot in the temple after having the graceful darshan of the Mother.
On day 8, it is called Sapparam.The concluding day of the weeklong Jatara is when the devotees chop the clay idol made at the entrance on the first day. The devotees throng the temple to collect the clay as they consider it auspicious to keep it in the house.
Gangamma is the sister of Lord Venkateswara Swamy. TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam) sends “Saare”, an auspicious gift on behalf of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, which includes sarees, turmeric, kumkum, bangles etc., to Goddess Gangamma during the Jatara.
Temple Timings
6 AM to 9 PM
Distance
It is located at 3 KM from Tirupati Bus Stand.
Address
Gangamma Temple, Thathaih gunta (Tata Nagar), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, 517501.
How To Reach
- Auto
- Cab
Very beautiful temple ,well organised and neatly maintained . Fabulous job done by the management .