Vakula Devi / Vakula Matha
We have been mentioning the name of Vakula Devi in connection with the Swamy Vari kitchen. We have also read that she supervises the dishes prepared in the kitchen. Let us try to know more about Vakula Devi.
In the northeast direction of the kitchen, there is a small temple. There is a four-foot square platform. On that platform facing east, we will find the idol of Vakula Devi or Vakula Matha. She is also known as Vakula Malika. In our ancient scriptures, she is addressed as Lakshmi. Afterwards, people began to address her as Vakula Devi. Well, who is this Vakula Devi?
who is this Vakula Devi?
As we all know Mother Yoshoda brought up Krishna right from His childhood days. Like eyelids which protect the eyes, she brought Him up. Though child Krishna killed many demons and rakshasas, Yoshoda could not know that her child was no other than Lord Vishnu. She was very much worried about His safety. She took extra care, not minding the inconveniences she came across, in bringing Him up.
But after killing His maternal uncle Kamsa, Krishna joined His biological parents Devaki and Vasudeva. Only under their care and direction most important things like His marriage etc., have taken place. Yashoda who brought Him up right from baby in arms stage, could not have the opportunity to perform His marriage.
Performing the marriage of their children gives immense, inexplicable happiness and satisfaction to the parents. Yashoda was deprived of this happiness and satisfaction. Omni science Krishna could read the mind of His foster mother Yashoda.
Dwapara Yuga –> Kaliyuga
He once consoled her saying: “Oh! Mother Yashoda, don’t worry, Krishna is Krishna only because of you and not despite you. I will give you an opportunity so that you can arrange and perform My marriage with your hands and initiative. Though not in this Dwapara Yuga, it will certainly happen in Kaliyuga. When I come down to Tirumala, to be known as Srinivasa, you will be there as Yogini. I will come to you and stay with you as your son. I once again appear as Krishna in Kaliyuga and stay in Tirumala which will be known as Venkatadri. Then you will arrange and perform My marriage”.
As per the boon granted by Krishna of Dwapara Yuga to Yashoda, she took the form of Vakula Devi in Kaliyuga.
Vakula Devi serving VarahaSwamy
Lord Vishnu after reaching Venkatadri got the patronage of Varahaswamy. This made Him settle down permanently on Venkatadri. Vakula Devi was there and was serving Varahaswamy. Sri Varahaswamy told her to look after Srinivasa, henceforth as a mother. As per the wish expressed by Varahaswamy Vakula Matha began to take care of Lord Srinivasa with sincerity and devotion.
By preparing food from a dark green grain ‘Shyamaka’ which was abundantly available on Tirumala Hills, she began to feed Lord Srinivasa. To add taste to the food she used to mix honey to it. It seems Lord Srinivasa used to relish honey-mixed food very much. In Ashtothara Shata Namavali (108 holy names) even to this day, the priests address Him at “Om Priyangu Priya Bhakshya Namaha”.
Even to this day, the people of Rayalaseema, Telangana and parts of Karnataka use this millet. In Telugu they say ‘Korralu’ and in Kannada Shyamalu.
Akasa Raju of that area had a daughter by name Padmavathi. Vakula Matha took initiative and arranged for Srinivasa’s marriage with Padmavathi. She spent her whole life serving Lord Srinivasa. As she happens to be a mother even to this day under her active and careful supervision dishes meant for Lord Srinivasa’s Naivedyam are prepared in the temple kitchen.
Lord Krishna even after appearing as Lord Srinivasa could not give up the habit of eating butter balls and curds with thick cream. In Dwapara yuga Yashoda fed Him whereas in Kaliyuga it is Vakula Matha who fed Him with the items he likes very much.
Daily during Suprabhata Seva Lord Srinivasa takes cow’s fresh milk and butter. Afterwards, He eats curd rice by the name ‘Matra’ served in a clay cullet. Lord Srinivasa enjoys repeating His childhood pranks and makes us to recall all those pranks of Dwapara Yuga.
Many Names of Vakula Matha
Vakula Matha of this temple kitchen has many names:
They call her
- Madapalli (Mattappalli) Nachiyar,
- Madapuli Nachiyar,
- Pachana Lakshmi and
- Paachaka Lakshmi.
Considering the kitchen supervision as the main activity of a housewife some even think that she is the queen of Venkateswara i.e., Sri Maha Lakshmi Herself. The personification of Lord’s Nandaka Sword Sri Tallapaka Annamaiah thinks that Alamelu Manga is Sri Maha Lakshmi.
Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra
Like Sri Maha Lakshmi even Alamelu Manga too has four hands. In her two raised hands she has two lotus flowers. In the lower right hand, the Abhaya Mudra is exhibited and the lower left-hand shows ‘Varada Mudra’.
Let us bow to Alamelu Manga the mother of mothers.
Vande Jagan Maataram ! Vande Jaganmaataram!!
Govinda! Govinda!! Govinda!!!
Offerings to Vakula Matha
Offerings are offered daily three times to Vakula Matha. She is offered sweet pongal. At the time of offering the Archakas take out the garland from the Lotus Feet of the Chief Idol and decorate the Vakula mata idol with that garland. After this Alamelu Manga’s Kheer is offered to Vakula Matha. This offering will be followed by Camphor harati.
Every Friday they perform Abhishekam and offer poojas. Similarly in Sravana masam during Vara Lakshmi Vratam and on Makara Sankranti day as well as the day that follows Makara Sankranti known as the ‘Kanuma’ festival, Vakula Matha gets Panchaamruta Abhishekam that too on a very grand scale.
Vakula Matha dedicated her life to the service of Lord Srinivasa. Every day she supervises the naivedyam items prepared in the temple kitchen and serves them to Lord Srinivasa. The leftovers, she will see that it is distributed to the devotees as Maha prasadam. She is making Lord Srinivasa happy and also all the devotees of Srinivasa happy.
Considering Her as Maha Lakshmi let us pray Her thus:
Nitya Mukthaa! Dosha Doora!
Twadoo Naadhika Sadguna!
Twatpaada Poojane Nityam
Baddha Kankana Bhooshitha!
Padmalankrutha Pani Pallava Yugam
Padmasanastham Sriyam
Vatsalyadi Gunojjwalam Bhagavatheem
Vande Jagan Mataram
Hail Lord of Seven Hills
Hail Venkata Ramana Sankata Harana
