Vengamamba --- The Devotee

Tarigonda Vengamamba  set her  foot on the globe in the year  1730. She was a poetess who wrote numerous poems,songs   and she was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara.

Vengamamba was born into a family of Nandavareeks a clan of brhamins. She was born to father Krishnayamatya and  Mangamamba her mother.


Married at a very early age , her husband Venkatachalapathi  passed away and she became a child-widow. However, she refused to accept anyone but the Lord as her husband and continued to dress as a married woman.

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.

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 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 Venkamamba's 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 samadhi was later converted into a school with the samadhi still open for pilgrims' worship in the school playground.