Mahar Renuka, also known as Yellamma Devi, is a Hindu mother goddess worshipped predominantly in the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra.

When she was eight, Agastya, the guru of King Reṇu, advised him to have his daughter married to Jamadagni when she reached maturity.

Jamadagni was the son of Ruchika and Satyavati and had obtained the blessings of the gods by performing severe penance.

Renuka would wake up early in the morning to bathe in the Malaprabha River with complete concentration and devotion.

Renuka gave birth to five sons: Ṛumaṇvān, Suhotra, Vasu, Viśvāvasu, and Rama Bhargava.

Rama performed severe penance and was bestowed with an axe (parashu), and was henceforth called as Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Vishnu).

Next, she was asked to visit the nearby town and beg for rice from the houses (this ritual, called "Joga Bedodu", is still carried out by women during a particular month in Karnataka/ "Jogawa" in Marathi, "Yellamma Jogu" in Telangana).

Knowing the anger of Jamadagni, they warned her that she may not be fully pardoned by him and that she would have to experience the most difficult time of her life for a few minutes.

He then offered a boon to Parushurama, who wisely asked for his mother and brothers to be brought back to life.

[15] A version among Deori people states that Jamadagni asked his sons to kill Renuka to prove their obedience before bringing her back to life.

[16] One of the famous temples of Balkampet Yellamma Temple, located in the Balkampet neighbourhood of Hyderabad where every year in the Ashadha month Yellamma Kalyanothsavam is celebrated with thousands of pilgrims performing special rituals to receive the goddess's blessing.

[21] In Tamil Nadu, Renugambal Amman Temple (it is Kuladaivam for Jambu Maharishi (Jamadagini) gotra Vanniyars), Senguntha Muthaliyars and other communities' people tracing their origin in that locality.

The presiding deity here is called Kondi Amman (worshipped by Pokanati Reddys settled from the Carnatic-Andhra regions).

According to one legend, the Haihaya King Sahasrarjuna (Kartavirya Arjuna) wanted the Kamadhenu cow from Jamadagni and Renuka.