Tarikonda Venkamamba (alternate spelling: Vengamamba) was a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara in the 18th century. She wrote numerous poems and songs. youtube/watch?v=G68CFdrtTMk The biography of Tharigonda Vengamamba. Lord Sri Venkateshwaras who awakes with Annamayyas melukolupu, and follows the days rituals, ends with Vengamambas Mutyala Harathi. No one is allowed to have darshan once this ritual is completed. Vengamamba is born to Kanala Krishnayya (Subbaraya Sarma) and Mangamma (Sudha), the residents of the village Tharigonda. Since her childhood she adored Lord Venkateshwara imagining him to be her husband. She is married off to a good-looking young man. She appears like Adishakti to him. This causes trouble as the elders opt to choose another girl for the boy. Vengamamba refuses to accept this. The boy is bitten by a snake. He takes word from his father that Vengamamba should not be changed into a widow after his death. Though the locals insist on the tradition of widowhood, Vengamamba refuses to oblige them and goes to Madanapalli. She completes her studies there and returns to her village. She begins to write Nrusimha Satakam. Her aunt Narayanammas daughter tries to burn the script and is punished for her deed. This changes Narayanamma forever and seeks her forgiveness. Peetadhipati who comes to question her knowledge, bows to her greatness. Vengamamba gives temple water to quench the thirst of a muslim. This causes a great commotion. She revolts against the wicked people of the village, and sits for penance in a cave previously used by the Sage Durvasa. The cruel gang tries to burn her alive. All believe that she is dead. But she goes to Tirupati to worship the Lord of Seven Hills. There she offers Tulasimala to the deity and is criticized for her offerings by the main priest there (as a widow is not allowed to worship the temple deity in those days). He throws the garland away. But Lord Venkateshwara appears to her wearing her tulasimala . She is blamed with the theft of the Lords ornaments. But Lord appears to the devotees wearing her tulasimala every day. When observed, it is found that Vengamamba comes through the locked doors and offers the garland to the deity. This opens the eyes of the priests and she is invited back to Tirumala. There she spends rest of her life writing hymns in praise of the Lord Venkateshwara and finally attains salvation (moksha) Early years Vengamamba was born into a family of Nandavareeks sect of brahmins in 1730 A.D. Her father was Krishnayamatya and mother was Mangamamba. Since childhood, she was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara and her devotion made the villagers believe that she was insane . Married at a very early age (common practice in those times), she lost her husband Venkatachalapathi and became a child-widow. However, she refused to accept anyone but the Lord as her husband and continued to dress as a married woman(such as wearing mangalsutra, non-white clothing, bottu/bindi). She studied yoga sciences under Acharya (professor) Subrahmnayudu and became a yogini . As a result, she faced resentment of the local priest in Tarikonda, and shifted to Tirumala. She was welcomed by the priest and descendants of Annamayya , all who had heard of her devotion prior to her move. Venkamambas harati Moved by her devotion, it is told that Lord Venkateswara allowed her to enter the temple after temple hours to hear her poems and songs. Venkamamba recited poems and took harati of the Lord each night and paid pearls as fee to the Lord. Observing pearls in the sanctum sanctorum over a period of time, the priests investigation led to Venkamamba. Their punishment was to exile her to a cave in Tumburakona, a distance of 15 miles from Tirumala. The legend goes on that He created a secret passage from the cave to the temple which was used by Venkamamba to continue her devotional service. The practice of penance and night harati continued for 6 years. Eventually, the priests realized their folly and recognized Venkamambas devotion and dedication, and requested her to return. Upon return, she was allowed to participate in Ekanta seva and take the final harati of the Lord. The area around her samādhi was later converted into a school with the samadhi still open for pilgrims worship in the school playground. Literary works Her first poem was Tarigonda Nrusimha Satakam and it was followed by Nrusimha Vilasa Katha, Siva Natakam and Balakrishna Natakam as Yakshaganam and Rajayogamrutha Saram, a Dwipada Kavyam. These works were completed when she was in Tarikonda. On her return to Tirumala from Tumburakona caves, Venkamamba composed Vishnu Parijatham, Chenchu Natakam , Rukmini Natakam and Jala Krida Vilasam and Mukthi Kanthi Vilasam (all Yaksha Ganams), Gopi Natakam (Golla Kalapam-Yakshaganam), Rama Parinayam, Sri Bhagavatham, Sri Krishna Manjari, Tatva Keerthanalu and Vashista Ramayanam (Dwipada), Sri Venkataachala Mahatyam (Padya Prabhandam) and Ashtanga Yoga,Saram (Padyakruthi). Ekanta Seva Since the Lord accepted Venkamambas devotion, her harati has been incorporated into Ekanta Seva performed to the Lord each night. A descendent of Venkamamba pays pearls as fee and the harati is called Venkamambas harati. Tollywood In 2006, director K. Viswanath announced a movie on the life of Venkamamba.There is a rumour that he might start the shoot soon, as the film has not yet been oficially launched.TTDs Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel is telecasting a tele serial named TARIGONDA VENGAMAMBA, on the life and times of Vengamamba. The serial is produced by Duraiswamy Raju and has Meena Durairaj playing the lead, potraying Vengamamba.This tele serial has been received excellent response, and stands next to Siva Narayana Teerthulu, which has K.Viswanath playing the lead and K.Raghavendra Rao s Shrushti, which are also being telecasted on TTDs Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:04:45 +0000
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