Poleramma

Poleramma (Telugu: పోలేరమ్మ) is a Hindu goddess of plague and smallpox.[1][2] She is predominantly worshipped in the villages of Andhra Pradesh,[3] and is regarded as a regional consort of Shiva.[4]

Poleramma
Murti of Poleramma at the Beeramgunta temple, Nellore
AffiliationDevi
Personal information
SiblingsPothuraju (brother)

Description

Poleramma is worshipped as a village goddess whose role is to server as the protector of the village. Her shrine is usually present outside the boundaries of the village, and often appears crudely built with mud and stones. She is considered a goddess of smallpox, and is associated with the goddess Mariamman of Tamil Nadu. She is regarded to oversee cattle disease, drought, and general health welfare. According to Yanadi tradition, the goddess causes smallpox to her adherents when she is not offered veneration. She is venerated by the community on a fixed day in a special hut after they are cured of the disease.[5]

Legend

Poleramma is regarded to be one of the seven sister-goddesses worshipped by adherents in rural Andhra Pradesh, having a brother named Pothuraju.[6]

Festival

A festival is dedicated to Poleramma, lasting three days. A buffalo is sacrificed as an offering to the goddess, its blood poured into a pot and ritually scattered around the village.[7]

References
  1. Jordan, Michael (14 May 2014). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. Infobase Publishing. p. 249. ISBN 978-1-4381-0985-5.
  2. Claus, Peter; Diamond, Sarah; Mills, Margaret (28 October 2020). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 381. ISBN 978-1-000-10122-5.
  3. Jakimowicz, Marta (1988). Metamorphoses of Indian Gods. Seagull Books. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-7046-029-9.
  4. Walker, Benjamin (9 April 2019). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 399. ISBN 978-0-429-62465-0.
  5. Rao, N. Sudhakar (2002). Ethnography of a Nomadic Tribe: A Study of Yanadi. Concept Publishing Company. p. 73. ISBN 978-81-7022-931-5.
  6. Coelho, Gail (8 October 2018). Annotated Texts in Beṭṭa Kurumba. BRILL. p. 319. ISBN 978-90-04-37824-7.
  7. Coelho, Gail (8 October 2018). Annotated Texts in Beṭṭa Kurumba. BRILL. pp. 47–48. ISBN 978-90-04-37824-7.
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