[5] The hill, a part of the Sidhachal or Ramagiri hill range which overlooks the Malaprabha river,[6] contains archaeological evidences of occupation dating to the mid-8th to mid-11th centuries of the early Rashtrakuta or late Chalukya period, and includes megalithic tombs which predate these periods.

[2] The hill on which the Yellamma Temple sits is part of the Sidhachal or Ramagiri range, oriented east–west and overlooking the Malaprabha river near the town of Savadatti.

It is believed that the Yellamma fertility cult was prevalent here even during the Chalukyan period, following their taking possession of this region from the Kadambas of Banavasi.

A notable custom observed here is called "Nimmana", which involves the circumambulation of the "Sathyamma Temple" with neem leaves in their mouths.

According to the government gazetteer, the goddess worshiped in the temple is associated with Parasurama's (an incarnation of Vishnu) mother Renuka, the wife of the sage Jamadagni.

She is a cult figure worshiped by the pastoral community of the Dhangar and Kurumbas of southern Maharashtra and North Karnataka.

Another location adjacent to the temple known as Parasurama Kshetra is believed to be the site where Lord Parausrama sat in the penance.

[6] Within the temple precincts stand shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Mallikarjun, Parashuram, Eknath, and Siddeshwar.

After achieving the status of a Rishi, Jamadagni visited several holy sites and finally reached the palace of King Prasenajit of the Solar Dynasty.

Jamadagni granted Renuka a boon that she would be able to bring water in unbaked clay pots, as long as her chastity was pure.

The sage exiled his four older sons to the forests due to their disobedience and cursed them either to become ash or live for eternity as transgenders.

Other legends narrate that when she was beheaded, Renuka's head multiplied by hundreds and moved to different regions in India.

Parashurama avenged his parents' deaths by killing Kartavirya's army 21 times, to relieve the Earth of her burden.

A very large number of pilgrims from Karnataka Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra visit the temple during these festivals.