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Jeedikallu
- Sri Ramaalayam
Among the topless and doorless Vaishnava
temples dedicated to the incarnations of Sri
Mahavishnu, this Ramaalayam adorns a
covetable place and deemed the most holiest
for several reasons. Although only a stone is
adored at this sacred place, where Sri Rama
gave darsan to the sage Vira, it is passed for a
potent kshetra reputed for lifting the Sokarthis.
According to sthalapurana, it is here Sri Rama
killed the demon Mareecha, who came
disguised as maaya jinka - fake deer that
brought insurmountable hardships to Sri Rama
and his parivara. There are two ponds here
called Palagundam and Jeedigundam,
considered very efficacious and a bath relieves
the bather from all sins. And it is believed that
sins get burnt out forthwith entirely, leaving
black residue resembling jeedi, so this place
was called Jeedigunta in the past. Another
version says that on account of the death of that
deceitful deer - mayajinka here, it was named
jinkakallu or jinkabanda which in course of time
became Jeedikallu.
The worshipful deity Sri Rama is placed on a
two-foot-high dais flanked by Mother Sita on his
left and Lakshmana to his right. Other than this
nothing is found - neither up on ceiling, nor
sidewards as walls, nor in the front as door, but
the peoples' faith it gained is incalculable. There
lies in the vicinity a pond called Ramagundam
and its water is deemed very holy. Visitors
sprinkle this water all over their bodies and take
it home presuming that it comforts the souls
miraculously for the sole reason that it was
materialized when Sri Rama pressed his toe
against the stone. Does not belief alone relieve
and lift mankind ? The annual festival falls in
Karthika masa and lasts for 13 days. Its pull is
great and thousands visit and worship the Lord
then.
It lies 10 km off Aleru railway station in the
Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh, accessible
by four wheelers from Warangal.
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