Hemareddy Mallamma (saint)

Hemareddy Mallamma, was a female saint in the 14th century. She was born in the 14th century in the North Karnataka region. Karnataka government observes Hemareddy Mallamma Jayanti in May 10 every year. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva in the form of Srisailam Mallikarjuna (one of the Jyotirlingas). She was grown in a family of Veerashaiva Lingayata and followed Basavanna's path. She went through a lot of torture by her co-sisters-in-law and even received murder attempts by them and was thrown out of the house by them. Then Hemareddy Mallamma started to live in a forest and continued her devoted practices. Srisailam Mallikarjuna (Lord Shiva) was pleased by her devotion, appeared before her and asked a boon. She asked him to give wealth to her family even being tortured by them. She suggested her family to have wealth, do charity and not have ego. Hemareddy Mallamma never wrote Vachanas but her life is an inspiration for women. She is referred as Mahasadhvi means a great woman.