- Source: Somalamma
Somalamma, also called Somanalamma and Somanayaki Amma, is a Hindu devi (goddess) who protects soma and gives soma to her devotees to relieve their health and mental symptoms.
Soma
Soma (Sanskrit: सोम), or Haoma (Avestan), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was an important ritual drink for early Indo-Iranian peoples, and the later Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, which contains many hymns praising its energising qualities. In the Avesta, haoma has an entire Yasht dedicated to it.
In the Vedas, soma is personified as sacred and divine (deva). The god, the drink, and the plant probably referred to the same entity, or at least the difference was ambiguous. In this aspect, soma is similar to the Greek ambrosia (cognate to amrita); it is what the gods drink and what makes them deities. Indra and Agni are portrayed as consuming Soma in copious quantities. The consumption of soma by human beings was probably under the belief that it bestowed divine qualities on them.
Temples
The goddess Somalamma temples are mainly governed by the Goud communities. Every year, there is a gathering of many of her devotees in various temples in Andhra Pradesh.
Somalamma temple, Gaigalapadu, Kakinada
Somalamma temple Rajamundry-533103
Somalamma temple Jangareddy Gudem, West Godavari
Somajiguda, Hyderabad
Somaram, Somavaram, Warangal
Somaram, Somavaram, Nalgonda
Somarajapuram, Kothuru, Srikakulam
Somavaram, Chatrai mandal, Krishna dt
Somavaram Nandigama mandal
Somavarappadu, Pedaparupudi mandal
Somasundarapalem, Tenali, Guntur dt
Somavaram, Wyra mandal, Khammam
Somaram, Saidapur mandal, Karim Nagar
Somanpalle, Jagityal mandal
Somaram Tidwai, Nizamabad dt
Somapuram, Gadivemula, Kurnool
Somalavandlapalli, Talupula, Ananthapur
Somalapuram, Dhirehal
Somaghtta, Chilamattu
Somapuram, Pedduru, Chittoor
Somanadhapuram, Penumur mandal
Somalagadda village, Madanapalle mandal
Somarajulapalle, Kvpalle mandal
See also
Renuka