Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
Tarigonda is the Birthplace of A great poetess and an Ardent devotee of Lord Narasimha Swamy and Lord Venkateswara Swamy Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba. There was a Big Vishnu temple in Tarigonda. The temple deity is Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy who is known for Sathya Pramanas (Promise) and consideration towards the devotees who are in dire need of God’s blessings and blesses all the devotees liberally.
Tarigonda – Curd Pot
Tarigonda is in the district of Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh State which is 6 Kilometers from Valmeekipuram (Vayalpadu). Previously the place is known as Tarikunda. Tarikunda means the pot in which the curd is churned. There was an interesting Sthalapurana about the temple and God.
It is believed that a woman while churning the curd found the Lakshmi Narasimha Swami in a pot in the form of Salagrama. As the Lord is found in a curd pot the place is known as Tarikunda. ‘Tari’ means ‘Curd’ and ‘Kunda’ means ‘Pot’. Later Tarikunda changed as Tarigonda.
The local ruler by name Rama Naidu who lived in the village had a dream and in that dream, Lord Narasimha Swami directed him to build a temple with Salagrama found in the curd pot.
Tarigonda Vengamamba
Tarigonda Vengamamba a poet, Saint and Ardent devotee of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swami Worshipped Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Tarigonda Vengamamba was born in the family of Nandavarika in 1730 AD in Tarigonda village of Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh.
Her father was Kaanaala Krishnaiah and her mother was Mangamma. Though they had five male children they visited Tirumala and prayed to Lord Venkateswara for a girl child and the Lord fulfilled their desire by giving a girl child and named her “Venkamma”. As a child venkamma was a devotee of Lord Venkateswara.
From her childhood she feel that Lord Venkateswara as her husband and the villagers believed that she was insane. Her parents forcibly married her to Venkatachalapathi at a very early age. Soon she lost her husband and became child widow.
She refused to accept any one but Lord as her husband and continued to wear Mangalasutram, Kumkuma (Vermilion) and flowers. She used to spend her time in Sri Narasimha Swami temple in Tarigonda doing Meditation (Dhyana) and Puja.
She used to sit near the Sri Anjaneya Swami Statue at Sri Narasimha Swamy temple of Tarigonda. Some villagers believed that she was a Lunatic and some other villagers believed that she was yogini and they called her as Tarigonda Vengamamba.
A Great Poetess…
At the age of 20 she left Tarigonda and went to Tirumala. She is a great poetess. She wrote many books namely- SriKrishna Manjari, RukminiKalyanam, Gopikaanaatakam, Jalakreedaavilaasam, Ashtaangarajayogasaaram, Muktikaantaa Vilaasam, Vaasishta Raamayanam etc.,
One of the most famous of her works is ‘VEKATACHALA MAHATYAM’. It consists of 2000 poems. It is believed that those who read the verses will get married soon and also blessings from Lord Venkateswara. In 1817 in Sukla paksha Navami of Sravanamasam, she entered into Sajeeva Samadhi.
The Samadhi of Matrusri Vengamamba is north of the Sri Varaha Swami temple and near the home of descendants of Tallapaka Annamacharya.
Description of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple in Tarigonda is built on the main road facing towards East direction. The main Gopuram consists of three stairs. There are five Gopurakalasams on Gopuram. In the temple premises, there is an idol of Sri Vengamamba facing towards North.
To the opposite of main temple there are Garuda, Dwajastambam, Satya pramanala peetham. The main temple consists of Mahamandapa, Mukhamandapa, Antaralayam and Garbhalayam. In Mukha mandapa there is one Upalayam where an Idol of Sri Anjaneyaswami is installed.
It is believed that Matrusri Vengamamba used to pray Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswami sitting behind Sri Anjaneya Swami.
People believe that a visit to this temple frees them from difficulties. Mukhamandapa leads to Antaralayam where the Utsavamurthies are installed. In the main sanctum sanctorum, we find the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswami having four hands with Shanka, Chakra, and Abhaya hastam along with His Consort Lakshmi Devi.
Goddess Sri Chenchu Lakshmi and Lakshmi Ammavaru
In temple premises, there is a separate temple for Deveri of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. In this temple, we can see the Goddess Sri Chenchu Lakshmi and Lakshmi Ammavaru one after other in a row. It is believed that Goddess bless the childless with children and the unmarried Girls will get married if they pray to the Goddess.
Three inscriptions
There are three inscriptions at this temple available even today.
1st inscription
The first belonged to Sadasivadeva Maharaya of Vijayanagar dynasty in 1559 AD. The inscription implies that the emperor’s assent, and tax reduction as well as tax relaxation was implemented by the local ruler Sri Jillela Vengala Raja deva. Hence, it is undeniable that Tharigonda Temple was existing by 1559 AD.
2nd inscription
The second inscription said that separate structures were built for the kitchen and for performing holy fire (yagasala) at the temple. It was built by Errappa, a disciple of Guru Bhaskaracharya in 1846 AD.
3rd inscription
The third inscription of 1862 A.D. declares that a big wedding hall was built for Lord Narasimha Swamy by a devotee Krishnama setty. Even though these inscriptions are authentic, the name of the temple builder is unknown.
But it can be said that the temple was built in the 16th century A.D. There is a non-dispute word that the builder of the temple and the person behind the development of the village was the same person was Rayadurgam Ramanayani.
Administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
At present, the temple is administered by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Tarigonda Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy vari Brahmotsavams will be performed every year in the month of Phalgunamasam for Nine days apart from daily poojas.
During Brahmotsavams different vahana sevas including Rathotsavam and kalyanotsavam will be performed in a grand style. Besides Brahmotsavam, Sri Nrusimhajayanti will be performed every year in the month of Vaisakamasam.
Transport and Accommodation
There is no accommodation facility in Tarigonda. It is advisable to stay at Madanapalli and Tirupati. Tarigonda is 100 kilometres from Tirupati, 6 kilometres from Vaalmikipuram (Vayalpadu), 18 kilometres from Madanapalli, and 95 kilometres from Kadapa. There are several buses from Madanapalli.
Satyapramanas
This holy place is known for its proclamations of Truth ‘Satyapramanas’ which people make standing in front of the Balipeetham; such is the faith of devotees in this Deity Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami.
The visit to ‘Tarigonda’ generates peace and joy for the devotees.
