Tarigonda Vengamamba Temple Samdhi Tirumala
Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba (1730–1817) was a woman saint-poet and one of the most ardent devotees of Lord Venkateswara, and her connection to Tirumala endures to this day. She attained her Jeeva Samadhi at Tirumala, where her brindavan (sacred tomb) still stands within the grounds of the S.V.B.N.R. High School near the Varaha Swami temple and is open to pilgrims. Above all, the tender Muthyala Harati (pearl harati) she introduced is still offered to the Lord every night as part of the Ekanta Seva — making her devotion a living, daily presence at the hill shrine nearly two centuries after her passing.
Who was Tarigonda Vengamamba?
Vengamamba was born on 20 April 1730 in the village of Tarigonda in present-day Andhra Pradesh, into a Brahmin family of the Vangipuram lineage. Her father was Krishnayamatya and her mother Mangamamba. From childhood she was so absorbed in devotion to Lord Venkateswara that villagers, unable to understand her intensity, sometimes thought her eccentric. Married young, in keeping with the custom of the age, to Injeti Venkatachalapathi, she was widowed while still very young and had no children.
Rather than accept a conventional life, Vengamamba turned wholly to the spiritual path, declaring that she would accept none but the Lord Himself as her husband. She studied yoga under her teacher and became a yogini, and around the middle of the 18th century she made her way to Tirumala to live in the presence of the deity she loved. She is remembered today as Matrusri (revered mother) and as the only woman saint-poet to have devoted an entire body of literary work to Sri Venkateswara.
Quick facts about Tarigonda Vengamamba
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 April 1730, Tarigonda village, Andhra Pradesh |
| Passed away | 21 August 1817 (aged 87), Tirumala |
| Parents | Krishnayamatya (father), Mangamamba (mother) |
| Known as | Matrusri (revered mother); yogini and saint-poet |
| Chief legacy at Tirumala | The Muthyala Harati offered nightly in Ekanta Seva |
| Samadhi | Jeeva Samadhi / brindavan within S.V.B.N.R. High School grounds, near the Varaha Swami temple, Tirumala |
| Literary output | Around 18–20 devotional works (satakams, yakshaganas, dwipada kavyas) |
The Muthyala Harati — her devotion, still offered every night
The heart of Vengamamba’s living connection to Tirumala is the Muthyala Harati, or pearl harati. According to the tradition preserved at the temple, Vengamamba would recite her verses and wave harati to the Lord each night, offering pearls as her fee. Over time, priests noticed pearls appearing in the sanctum and, on investigation, traced them to her nightly worship.
Not understanding her devotion, the priests are said to have sent her away to a cave at Tumburakona, roughly 15 miles from Tirumala, where she continued her penance and her night harati for about six years. Realising eventually that they had wronged a true devotee, the priests requested her to return, and she was welcomed back and allowed to take part in the Lord’s final worship of the day.
That is why, to this day, the Muthyala Harati is woven into the Ekanta Seva — the last ritual of the night, when the utsava (processional) idol of the Lord is laid to rest. The pearl harati is sung like a gentle lullaby before the deity retires, and by long-standing custom a descendant of Vengamamba’s family participates in the ritual, offering pearls as she once did. The nightly harati is popularly called Venkamamba’s Harati in her honour.
Her Jeeva Samadhi at Tirumala
Vengamamba spent her final years at Tirumala and attained Jeeva Samadhi there in 1817. Over the following century, the area around her brindavan was developed, and today it lies within the grounds of the S.V.B.N.R. High School at Tirumala. The brindavan itself remains open for pilgrims to offer their respects, and it sits close to the Varaha Swami temple and the Varaha Swami guest houses — within easy walking distance for those who wish to visit after darshan at the main shrine. Because the site is inside a functioning school, visitors should be considerate of school hours and any access instructions given on the spot.
A pioneer of Annadanam and her literary legacy
Vengamamba is also honoured as an early champion of Annadanam (free feeding of pilgrims). She is remembered for feeding the many devotees who came to Tirumala during Narasimha Jayanti, serving them for several days at her own residence. In recognition of this, Tirumala’s free-meals service — the Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana Satram — carries her name, continuing her spirit of selfless service on a scale she could scarcely have imagined.
As a poet she was prolific and pioneering. She is regarded as the only woman saint-poet to have composed such a large body of work centred on Sri Venkateswara — around eighteen to twenty compositions in Telugu. Her first work is generally cited as the Tarigonda Nrusimha Satakam, followed by pieces such as Nrusimha Vilasa Katha, the yakshaganas Siva Natakam and Balakrishna Natakam, the dwipada kavya Rajayogamrutha Saram, and Vishnu Parijatham, among others spanning devotion, yoga and philosophy.
Tarigonda village and TTD’s commemoration
Her birthplace, Tarigonda village, is itself a devotional centre associated with Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, and it remains linked to her memory. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) established a dedicated Tarigonda Vengamamba Project by board resolution in 2007 to preserve and promote her legacy — publishing scholarly editions of her kritis, releasing recordings of her songs, and instituting annual observances. TTD marks her Jayanti (birth celebration) around Narasimha Jayanti and her Vardhanti (memorial day), with events held at Tirupati, Tirumala and Tarigonda. In 2026, her 296th Jayanti was celebrated at Tirumala with a procession of Sri Malayappa Swamy, underlining how alive her memory remains in the temple town.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tarigonda Vengamamba’s samadhi in Tirumala?
Her Jeeva Samadhi (brindavan) is located within the grounds of the S.V.B.N.R. High School at Tirumala, close to the Varaha Swami temple and guest houses. It is within walking distance of the main temple area and open for pilgrims to pay their respects.
What is the Muthyala Harati and is it still performed?
The Muthyala Harati (pearl harati) is the night harati Vengamamba introduced, offered with pearls. It continues to this day as part of the Ekanta Seva, the last ritual of the night, sung as a lullaby before the Lord’s utsava idol is laid to rest.
When did Tarigonda Vengamamba live?
She was born on 20 April 1730 in Tarigonda village and attained Jeeva Samadhi at Tirumala on 21 August 1817, at the age of 87.
Why is Tirumala’s free-meals hall named after her?
Vengamamba was an early practitioner of Annadanam, feeding pilgrims during Narasimha Jayanti. TTD’s Nitya Annadana Satram at Tirumala bears her name in tribute to that legacy of service.
What did she write?
She composed around eighteen to twenty devotional and philosophical works in Telugu on Sri Venkateswara, including the Tarigonda Nrusimha Satakam, Nrusimha Vilasa Katha, Rajayogamrutha Saram and Vishnu Parijatham — making her the foremost woman saint-poet in this tradition.
Does TTD hold events in her memory?
Yes. Through its Tarigonda Vengamamba Project, TTD observes her Jayanti and Vardhanti annually at Tirupati, Tirumala and Tarigonda, with processions, cultural programmes and publications. For exact dates and event details each year, refer to the official TTD channels.
Sources & last verified (July 2026)
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams — Tarigonda Vengamamba Project: https://www.tirumala.org/RATarigondaVengamambaProject.aspx
- TTD News (news.tirumala.org) — Vengamamba Jayanti / birth anniversary observances at Tirumala
- Wikipedia — Tarigonda Vengamamba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarigonda_Vengamamba
- Indica Today — “The Saga of Tarigonda Vengamamba’s Devotion and Devotional Poetics”: https://www.indica.today/research/conference/the-saga-of-tarigonda-vengamambas-devotion-and-devotional-poetics/
This site is an independent pilgrim guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) or the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department. For official information on sevas, timings, events and facilities, please consult the official TTD portal and Endowments channels.
Last reviewed: July 7, 2026
