Tarigonda Vengamamba – Ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara
Vengamamba’s father was Krishnaiahmatya and her mother was Mangamamba. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati and her devotion towards God, made villagers believe that she was bestowed with special powers. Her husband was Venkatachalapati.
Tarigonda Vengamamba married him at a very young age, which was common in those days. Shortly after her husband died and she became a widow. Though she got a chance to remarry, she refused to accept anyone but Lord Venkateswara as her husband.
Thus, she continued to dress like a normal married woman (wearing mangalasutra, ornaments, etc.) and she did not don the white garments as widows were expected to wear.
She had been invited by all the priests and descendants of Annamayya to Tirumala, who had heard of her devotional endeavors. She had become a yogini, after learning yoga from her teacher, Acharya Subrahmanya.
History
There are many places around holy Tirumala. Many great people, saints, Avadhootas (naked mendicants) have taken birth in this holy pilgrim centre. Tarigonda is one such holy place. Vayalpadu is the nearest town to this village.
Kaanaala Krishnaiah and Mangamma
In the thirties of 18th century, there lived a holy couple by the name Kaanaala Krishnaiah and Mangamma. They had five sons. They were longing to have a daughter, so that they could have fruits of performing Kanyadanam i.e., giving a daughter in marriage to a person whom the parents of the bride think is a good person.
With this desire in their mind, they visited Tirumala. Standing before Lord Venkateswara they earnestly prayed for a daughter. All merciful and benevolent Lord Venkateswara heard their sincere prayer. He blessed the couple with a daughter. Kaanaala Krishnaiah and Mangamma named their child as Venkamma after Lord Venkateswara.
Right from her birth Venkamma devoted her time and energy in Lord’s service. For hours together she used to meditate on the Lord. The parents were happy in the beginning. Afterwards, they felt that the girl should not spend her entire time in meditation and prayer.
She should evince interest in things like cooking and preparing herself for the marriage and the responsibility that may befall on her after her marriage. People began to discuss about Venkamma’s detachment from worldly things. People thought either she might have gone mad or she should have come under the influence of some evil spirit.
Vengamamba’s Marriage
People appreciated her devotion. But nobody was prepared to give his/her son in marriage to Venkamma. Before the news of Venkamma’s detachment from worldly things spread like wildfire, Venkamma’s parents had vigorously started to find an alliance for their daughter.
When Venkamma came to know about this, she told her parents not to search a groom for her. She further told them, Lord Venkateswara is her husband. Yet the parents of Venkamma fixed an alliance. They selected one groom by the name of Injeti Venkatachalapathy and arranged a marriage for their daughter.
Unfortunately even before the couple started their conjugal life Venkatachalapathy breathed his last. Not paying much attention to worldly things and customs she began to lead her life as sumangali (without giving up the Vermilion mark on her forehead or not having flowers in her locks of hair).
Seeing this unwidow-like life his daughter is leading Krishnaiah approached Sri Roopavatharam Subramaniya Shastry of Madanapalli. Sri Shastry initiated Venkamma into spirituality. This initiation proved rather beneficial to Venkamma. From that time onwards she started using her entire time to devotion. She almost became a Sanyasin.
Effortlessly she started composing songs. Seeing her spiritualistic life people began to address her as Vengamamba. They even started worshipping her.
Muthyala Harathi (Pearl Harathi)
It is mentioned in the legends that Lord Venkateswara asked Vengamamba to visit Him after the closing of the temple, out of interest to hear her poems and songs. She was a good poetess and had composed many notable works. After reciting the poem, she offered a ‘Pearl Harathi‘ as a gift to the Lord.
Observing pearls in the sanctum, every night, the priests who investigated were led to Tarigonda Vengamamba. All the people began to seek Vengamamba to solve their problems. So, she decided to go far away to continue her prayers in Tubura Kona which is 15 km away from Tirumala.
But, still, the legend goes on that Lord Venkateswara created a secret underground passage from Tumburakona to Tirumala to continue her devotional service. The practice of her good work and night harathi continued for 6 years.
Eventually, the priests recognized their fault and realized Vengamamba’s devotion and dedication and requested her to return to the temple. She was allowed to participate in Ekanta seva and take the final Harathi of Lord of Seven Hills.
Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyam
Tarigonda Vengamamba is a prolific writer. All her literary work was dedicated to Lord Sri Tarigonda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala.
Tarigonda Vengamamba was the quintessence of devotion to Lord Venkateswara. She dedicated her entire life to Lord Balaji serving food (Anna Dana) to devotees who came to have the grand ‘darshan’ of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala.
She refused to obey some social restrictions imposed on women in those days. Her immense courage and devotion towards Lord Venkateswara are highly laudable. Of all her splendid literary works, “Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyam” is a glowing example of her complete devotion and surrender to Lord Venkateswara.
Tarigonda Vengamamba Brundavan
She translated Yoga Vasista into Dwipada form. Even after her demise, she settled in the sacred abode as her Brindavan at Tirumala. The sacred garden in reverence to Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba is known as “Tarigonda Vengamamba Brundavan.”
Vengamamba’s Grave @ Tirumala
The great lady lies buried in the Tirumala Hills close to the temple. The area around her grave was later converted into a school, S.V.B.N.R. high school, Tirumala, with the grave still open for piligrim’s worship in the school’s playground. Vengamamba reached the lotus feet of Lord Venkateswara in 1817 (after 87 years).
Since the Lord accepted Vengamamba’s devotion, the night harathi and offerings of pearls are done by one of the descendants of Vengamamba even to this day.
