Sammakka and Sarakka belongto Koya tribe. Their ancestors established small kingdoms in Mahárashtra,mPradesh, Chhattisgarhi and Telangapalocate on the South of Vindhya mountains. They worshiped Mother Goddess and Lord Shiva. Chandavaru, the ancestors of Sammakka, worshiped the Bandichikka deity.
His father Rayibandani Raju was a ruler of Bhupalapatnam area in Warangal district. His brother-in-law Samudra was the ruler of Kottapalli area in Bijapur taluk, Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. He belonged to the Naga Clan. Two inscriptions belonging to Naga rulers issued in Telugu language were also found there.
Ravinbandani Raju married his daughter Sammakka to Pagididda Raju, son of Samudra. PagididdamRaju was the nephew of Medaraja lI (A:D 1116- 1158), the ruler of Polavasa area in Karimnagar district. Paoididda Raju became the king of Medaram area.
The original name of Medaram was Mouje Medaram. The surname of Pagididda Raju was Majji. Mouje or Majji means a Village (Ooru). The historic Medaram is located in Dharmaram mandal of Karimnagar district and another Medaram is located in Warangal district. A village named Majjempalli is located near Medaram in Dharmaram mandal.
The dargahs, villages and temples which are considered to be constructed by the ancestors of Medaraju are also located here. So it is said that the husband of Sammakka ruled here. Anumakonda Kakatiya king Prola II fought with Medaraju, Pagididda raju and other rulers in A.D 1138. Later, in A.D 1159, his son Pratapa Rudra I also defeated them.
Medaraju refused to give his daughter Sarakka in marriage to Pratapa Rudra. According to an inscription found before Hanamkonda Thousand Pillar temple, he relinquished Polavasa kingdom, his treasury and left to Manchukonda forest crossing river Godavari. Koitur inhabitants of that tribal area still worship Chinnayya deva (Bhima). Sarakka was a maiden. So some villages named Kannepalli, Kannepeta and Kannepuram originated in the surrounding areas.
The family and relatives ofMedaraju and the family of Pagididda Raju migrated to Medaram- Jaggayyapeta worst area in Warangal district and founded a small kingdom. The armies of Pratapa Rudra invaded their Kingdom. A fierce battle was fought at Dayyala Madugu for 10 days. Jampanna, son of Sammakka bravely fought against Kakatiya forces and died on the battlefield. The stream got the name of Jampanna Vaagu after him. It is also known as Sampangi vaagu.
One after the other the Koya warriors fell, forcing the matriarch Dammakka to enter the battle fray. She too could not win against the skilled Kakatiya soldiers and retreated to the jungle with injuries. She cursed them, saying the Kakatiya reign would soon end. It is to commemorate the mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, who wielded it. Swords much before the Kakatiya queen Rudrama, the Koyas began to organize the jatara.
There was a tradition of carving Veerargal statues commemorating the warriors who sacrificed their lives for their people. The statues of Dommaraju warriors along with their names can be seen at. Sammakka and Sarakka won the hearts of people by taking up welfare activities. Sammakka was adept in traditional medicine.
Folk literature tells that on the day of her wedding, she saved a snake bitten person’s life by using herbal juice. She also cured people who were suffering chronic diseases. A daughter-in-law of the Chanda clan built a pond named Burrikunta for people. Jalakam Bavi (well) was also built like that. Its remains can be seen at Bayyakkapeta. A tank was constructed by the descendants of Sammakka at Medaram in Dharmaram mandal. It saved the lives of many people from severe droughts.
