Introduction of Tarikonda Venkamamba |
She told them that she had no time to go with them and would come
some time later.The Jagadguru when he heard the reply was astonished;
for, there had been no occasion when any body had disobeyed him.
In the meantime some of the brahmin villagers, managed to bring
Venkamamba there. Sankaracharya was seated on a throne. Venkamamba
was made to stand before him. She looked at the Acharya but never
saluted him. She stood there with a clear and undisturbed mind .
People present there asked Venkamamba to salute the Acharya She
refused to do so. Every body scolded her. Sankaracharya said, "why
do you get abuses from the people. Being born in a brahmin family
it is not good for you to behave haughtily."
She replied that she would salute that throne if he vacated it.
The Acharya grew wild. He said, "How dare you ask me to vacate
my seat. All the people feel it is their good fortune to meet me
and get my blessings. Why should you alone treat me with such contempt.
At least now you give up your haughty attitude and receive my blessings.
According to the Brahmin custom you should have your head shaved.
You should Dot go against the established custom."
Even after hearing the Acharya speak so, Venkamamba kept quiet
and unperturbed. Every body scolded her in their own way. Yet she
stood firm as a rock. Sankaracharya was astonished. He appreciated
her patience. He thought that there might be some hidden power in
her. He therefore told her that as desired by her he would vacate
the throne and that she might then salute it.
When Vankamamba saluted the vacant throne praying Srimannarayana
in her heart, there were heavy lightening and thunderous sounds
and the throne went into flames and reduced to ashes. Every body
there were astonished. Sankaracharya appreciated her Bhakti and
conferred on her the title 'Bhaktha Siromani '. He felt sorry for
having -wounded her feelings without knowing her capacity. He begged
to be excused. He appreciated her capacity to bind Lord Venkateswara
by her devotion and wished that she should be respected as Bhaktha
Siromani in the Kaliyuga.
To the suggestion to have her head shaved, Venkamamba laughed
and said “if any body can prevent the further growth of. hair
on my head, I shall have my head tonsured." Is it possible
for the Acharya to arrest the growth of, hair? He felt ashamed.
His disciples came round her and prostrated. Sankaracharya and his
disciples then left that village to their home town.
From that time onwards Venkamamba was treated with great respect
by everybody. Many offered her flowers and fruits and got blessings
from her.
Vankamamba entered Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in that
village. She used to decorate the idol there and perform pooja daily.
The pujaris felt jealous of her action and tried to prevent her.
But they could not succeed. Once, while she was seated in Padmasan
posture and immersed in Dhyan, they built a samadhi to prevent her
coming out again. They again failed in their attempt because Venkamamba
disappeared from there and arrived Tirupati, the Kaliyuga Viakuntam.
She used to reside in a garden to the north of the temple there.
In that garden were grown Tulasi and other flower plants. A well
was arranged to be dug in the garden. But no water could be found
however deep the well was dug. Venkamamba knew this. She came to
the spot and prayed Ganga Bhavani devotedly. Immediately water overflowed
the well. Those who had witnessed her miraculous power felt glad
at her divine power and prostrated before her. They spoke in praise
of her.
With the waters in that well, the plants in the garden were' well
nursed and garlands of Tulasi petals and flowers were made and offered
to Lord Venkateswara daily. The Lord was much pleased with her Bhakthi
and appeared before her often. This made her more devoted to the
Lord and she was always immersed in His dhyan. Quite often she used
to dance forgetting herself in prayers. Pilgrims and other devotees
having come to know of this, used to have her darshan also when
they visited Tirupati. In course of time, the crowds that were gathering
to have her darshan swelled beyond description that she felt it
was a source of disturbance for her meditation.
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