VENGAMAMBA JAYANTHI OBSERVED IN TIRUMALA

TIRUMALA, MAY 13:  Religious fervour marked the 284th jayanthi celebrations of saint poetess Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba, which is celebrated in Tirumala on Tuesday.

In connection with this event, the processional deities of Lord Malayappaswamy accompanied by his two divine consorts were taken out in a grand procession to the venue – Narayanagiri gardens from Srivari temple and Unjal Seva is performed.

In his spiritual address, H.H.Sri Sri Sri Swarupanandagiri Swamy of Vasisthashram of Srinivasa Mangapuram said Vengamamba stood as an inspiration to women empowerment since she fought against all social evils that prevailed in those days and became one of the important ardent devotees of Lord Venkateswara. He said she penned many great works in the form of Dwipada, Shlokas etc. and won the heart of none other than the Lord Himself. He complemented TTD for organising the birth and death anniversaries in memory of the great woman every year in a grand manner on the lines of Padakavitha Pitamaha Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya.

Later TTD Chairman Sri K Bapiraju said, Vengamamba pioneered the noble concept of introducing Annaprasadam in later half of 17th Century. “Today we have a mammoth complex named after the great saint poetess feeding annaprasadam to thousands and thousands of pilgrims every day without interruption”, he added.

JEO Sri P Bhaskar said, TTD has started the events some four years ago and will continue to observe the fetes in future in Tirupati, Tirumala and at Tarigonda village without fail.

Later TTD Annamacharya project (Tarigonda Vangmaya Project) artists rendered songs written by the saint poetess in the praise of the Lord. After the fete the deities returned to the temple.

The officials of TTD including Deputy EOs Sri Siva Reddy, Smt Sharada, Vengamamba Project Special Officer Dr K J Krishnamurthy and others paid floral tributes in Vengamamba Brindavan at Tirumala.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI