Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba: The Yogini Poetess of Tirumala

November 13, 2025 , , , , , , ,

 

Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba was a revered 18th-century poet, yogini, and devotee of Lord Venkateswara whose spiritual legacy lives on in Tirumala through the Mutyala Harati tradition and her Samadhi near Sri Varaha Swamy Temple.

Life and Devotion

  • Birth: April 20, 1730, in Tarigonda village, Andhra Pradesh
  • Spiritual Path: A staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, she considered Him her eternal consort
  • Interment: She was interred alive in 1817, in the month of Shravana, through yogic samadhi
  • Samadhi Location: North of Sri Varaha Swamy Temple, Tirumala – a sacred site for pilgrims

Mystical Beliefs

  • It is believed that Vengamamba still visits the temple through Yoga Marga every night
  • She initiated the Mutyala Harati (pearl lamp offering) to Lord Venkateswara
    • This ritual is performed after Ekanta Seva, and the temple doors are closed immediately afterward
    • The tradition continues to this day, honoring her devotion

Literary Contributions

Vengamamba was a prolific writer in Telugu, blending bhakti, poetry, and drama:

TitleGenre
Sri Venkatachala MahatyamPadya Prabandham
Dvipada BhagavatamDevotional Epic
Vishnu ParijathamYaksha Ganam
Chenchu Natakam, Rukmini NatakamDramas
Tatva Keerthanalu, Ashtanga Yoga SaramPhilosophical Works
Vashista RamayanamDvipada Style
Sri Krishna Manjari, Rama ParinayamDevotional Narratives

Her works are preserved and published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

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