Shri Sanatanam: Devotees of Sri Venkateswara Perumal - 2 (Matrusree Tarigonda Vengamamba)

Hare Krishna!

One of the famous devotees of Srinivasa swamy is Matrusree Tarigonda Vengamamba. She served Lord from her birth and got name as “Telugu Meera”.

Actually her story is too big. So, I’ll cut-short it.

Her Lifetime was 1750 to 1817. But, even in 1900’s she gave Darsan to a sage in Tumbura Kona.

Once upon there lived a Brahmin couple named Krishnayya and Mangamamba in the village Tarigonda, Chithoor District of Andhra Pradesh. They don't have children. So, they worshiped Sri Venkateswara for children. Because of his mercy, a girl child was born to them. They named her Vengamamba.

She used be in the thoughts of Venkateswara from her childhood and she also loves Lord Narasimha in Tarigonda. Day by day her devotion was developed. She’ll be in the Pooja room or in the temple of Lakshmi Narasimha.

Her parents felt sad for this. They thought to do marriage for her. But, she rejected. She declared and announced that her husband is Sri Venkateswara swamy and no others have that right. She also said that she believed him as her husband from childhood. But, they rejected and married her to Venkatachalapathi (not God Venkateswara). Even though she didn’t care it. And continued her devotion as before. After some days, Venkatachalapathi died.

Then, according to traditions, people of that village tried to make her widow many times. But, they lost every time. Because she believed Lord Venkateswara as her husband who don’t have death.

After few days, her father joined her in Gurukul and her Guru was Subrahmanya Sastry. She got manthropadesam there. And also learnt Ashtanga yoga saaram within very few days. And again reached Tarigonda. She used to do penance. After some days, she started to write poems and many kavyas. She didn’t learnt those basics or grammar or any others. But, because of Lord’s mercy she started to write poems and sing kirthans on Lord.

Once, an abbot came to that village. All the people of that village said that Vengamamba was not following traditions and asked to punish her. Abbot agreed and asked her to come. She went. After seeing her, he went to know that she is not a normal woman but a great devotee and also yogini. He respected Vengamamba and ordered the people of that village to respect and serve her.

But, even then, some people didn’t change. Due to some situations, she left Tarigonda and started to Tirumala at the age of 20. She requested Lord Venkateswara to give permission for her to reside there. He appeared in her dream and said to pray Goddess Vyuha Lakshmi. The next day, she shocked and prayed Goddess Vyuha Lakshmi a lot and slept. The next day, abbot of Hathi Ram Ji Matam came to her and requested her to reside in the place given by him. She accepted and went. He gave a hut to her for residing and temple’s food will be sent to her for eating. She done a garden there and offered garlands to Lord Venkateswara daily. After few days, descendants of Annamacharya, gave her a room in their house freely to reside. She shifted there and offered Lord garlands of Tulasi and Flowers daily.

But, the priests of the temple don’t like her. Because in their thoughts, she is a widow, but she puts kumkum and all others. So, they rejected her to enter into the temple. She returned house and done her pujas in the house itself. But, Lord got angry on this.

That is the time of Brahmotsavam. Lord’s vehicle stopped near the House of Vengamamba and was not moving from there. Many devotees tried to move. But, there was no result. Then, the priests went to know that Lord got angry on that issue because the vehicle was not moving from her house. They said sorry to her and requested her to come and pray Lord. She came and gave harathi to Lord and requested him to move. Then, the vehicle started to move. They went to know the greatness of Vengamamba and allowed her into the temple with more respect.

She used to offer garlands to the Lord daily and give mutyala harathi (harathi with pearls) daily after ekantha seva.

Lord Venkateswara used to come to her house after Ekantha seva and listen her kirthans and it was said that he even dances by listening them some times.

She and her works became popular and all devotees who come to Tirumala used to go to her and take her blessings. This caused a disturbance for her penance. So, she requested Lord that night to give her salvation. He said “There is some more time for that. I’ll take you to Tumbura Kona. You can do penance there. No one disturbs you there” He took her to Tumbura Kona within a second. He showed a way and said her to come to his temple daily through that short cut. She agreed and daily went to the temple in night after Ekantha seva and offer him a garland and mutyala harathi. She even sings her kirthanas there which Lord loves a lot.

Everyday priests found a new garland decorated to Lord Venkateswara in Suprabhatham. And also Vengamamba is not there in Tirumala. They thought that she may decorate it for Lord daily because she is not a normal devotee. One day, with the request of priests, Mahanthu was inside the temple even after ekantha seva to know what is going on there. He saw Vengamamba decorating garland for Lord and also she gave harathi. She appeared near the Lotus feet of Lord. He shocked for that incident.

The next day, he informed it to the priests and they started searching her in the nearby places.

One day, a diseased person came to Tirumala. He was disrespected by his family members and went to Tirumala. But, the same thing happened there. So, he started walking from there. He reached Tumbura Kona and he was very hungry. He shouted loudly, “edukondalavaada Venkataramana”. Listening this, Vengamamba came out of the cave and saw him. She got mercy on him and offered him fruits and water. He felt happy. She said “your disease will be cured and you’ll lead your life happily. But, remember you shouldn’t tell to any one that I’m here. If you do so, your head will break into pieces. Close your eyes”. He closed and the next minute he came from Swamy Pushkarini in Tirumala. He was so beautiful and his disease was cured. People gave him respect and after few days he was identified that he person was the diseased one who went from Tirumala. They asked him about his disease (how it was cured). He said the whole thing about seeing Vengamamba. The next minute, his head broke into pieces.

All the people again went in search of Vengamamba. She again came to Tirumala and asked Lord to give her salvation. He agreed. That day, she announced that she’ll go into Sajeeva samadhi. With her power of penance, she went into Sajeeva Samadhi and this can be seen in Tirumala even now.

Even now, the harathi was regularly given to Lord at the time of Ekantha seva by the descendants of Vengamamba. She adopted a son with the order of Lord Venkateswara.

She is so merciful and keep food for people as a mother by which she got name Matrusrree Tarigonda Vengamamba. Our wishes come true if we tell them near the Vengamamba samadhi. Many devotees do these. And also we get vibrations by sitting there.

Her works were more than 20. Sri Venkatachala Mahathmayam and Sri Vishnu Parijatham are more famous. Some more works are Chenchu Natakam, Jalakrida Vilasam, Sri Krishna Manjari, Sri Rama Parinayam, Vasishta Ramayanam, Siva Paarijatham, etc.,

She used to celebrate Nrisimha jayanthi for 10 days and Anna danam is a part of it. Because of that, Matrusree Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam trust was opened by TTD.