The deity of Tarigonda Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami who is known for Sathya Pramanalu (Promise) and consideration towards the devotees who are in dire need of God’s blessings and he is to bless all the devotees liberally. People believe that anyone lies in this temple it affects the family and its Generations. Tarigonda is in the district of Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh State which is 6 Kilometers from Valmeekapuram (Vayalpadu). Previously the place is known as Tarikunda. Tarikunda means the pot in which the curd is churned. It is believed that a woman while churning the curd found the Lakshmi Narasimha Swami in a pot in the form of Salagrama. As the Lord is found in a curd pot the place is known as Tarikunda. Tari means curd and kunda means pot. Later Tarikunda changed to Tarigonda.
LEGEND
There was an interesting Sthalapurana about the temple and God.
Matrusri Tarigonda VENGAMAMBA, the great saint poetess who pioneered the concept of FREE FOOD distribution to the devotees and needy in Tirumala and fondly called by the devotees as “MATRUSRI”.
Today the ANNAPRASADAM charity by TTD is continued after her impeccable services.
As per temple legend, on the divine instructions of Goddess PADMAVATHI DEVI , the then In-charge of Hathiramji Mutt, Mahant Sri Atmaramdasji offered a small thatched hut in the present Rambhageecha gardens to Vengamamba.
She used to serve scores of pilgrims who visit Tirumala during this period in the premises of her residence for ten days. She carried out this noble task between 1785 AD to 1812 AD with till her last breath.
A woman while churning the curd in a pot noticed that some obstruction to the churning sticks and found a salagrama sila in the pot. A Palegadu i.e., the local ruler by name Rama Naidu who lived the village has a dream and in the dream Lord Narasimha Swami directed him to built a temple with Salagrama found in the curd pot.
VENGAMAMBA WORSHIPPED SRI LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMI
Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba was born in the family of Nandavarika in 1730 AD in Tarigonda village of Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. Her father was Kaanala Krishnaiah and mother was Mangamma. Though they had five male children they visited Tirumala and prayed Lord Venkateswara Swami for girl child and Lord fulfill their desire by giving a girl child in the form of Vengamamba and named her as “Venkamma”. As a child venkamma was a devotee of Lord Venkateswara. From her child hood she use to feel that Lord Venkateswara as her husband and the villagers believed that she was insane. Her parents forcibly married her to Venkatachalapathi at a very early age. Soon she lost her husband and became child widow. She refused to accept any one but Lord as her husband and continued to wear Mangalasutram, Kumkuma and flowers. She used to spend her time in Sri Narasimha Swami temple in Tarigonda in Dhyana and Puja. She used to sit near Sri Anjaneya Swami Statue at Sri NarasimhaSwami temple of Tarigonda. Some villagers believed that she was Lunatic and some others believed that she was yogini and they called her as Sri Vengamamba. At the age of 20 she left Tarigonda and went to Tirumala. She is a great poetess.
She wrote many books namely - SriKrishna Manajari, RukminiKalyanam, Gopikaanaatakam, Jalakreedaavilaasam, Ashtaangarajayogasaaram, Muktikaantaa Vilaasam, Vaasishta Raamayanam etc., One of the most famous of her works is ‘VEKATACHALA MAHATYAM’. It consists of 2000 poems. It is believed that those who read the verses will be get married soon and receive Lord Venkateswara Swami blessings and good things will happens to them. In 1817 in Sukla paksha Navami of Sravanamasam she entered into Sajeeva Samadhi. The Samadhi of Matrusri Vengamamba is at the north of Sri Varaha Swami temple and near to the home of descendents of Tallapaka Annamacharya.
HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE
The Inscriptions of reduction of taxes in the year 1559 of Vijayanagara Kings reveals that the temple was built before 1559 AD. They are of the opinion of the historians that the temple was built in the 15th Century. The Inscriptions of 1848 and 1862 indicates the Construction of Kitchen, Homasala and Kalyanamandapam. At present the temple is administered by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
TEMPLE DESCRIPTION
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple in Tarigonda is built on the main road facing towards East direction. The main Gopuram consists of three stairs. There are five Gopurakalasams on Gopuram. In the temple premises there is a idol of Sri Vengamamba facing towards North. To the opposite of main temple there are Garuda, Dwajastambam, Satya pramanala peetham. The main temple consists of Mahamandapa, Mukhamandapa, Antaralayam and Garbhalayam. In Mukha mandapa there is one Upalayam where an Idol of Sri AnjaneyaSwami is istalled. It is believed that Matrusri Vengamamba used to pray Sri Lakshmi NarasimhaSwami sitting behind Sri Anjaneya Swami. People believed that a visit to this temple frees from difficulties. Mukhamandapa leads to Antaralayam where the Utsavamurthies is installed. In main sanctum sanctorum, we find the idol of Sri Lakshmi NarasimhaSwami having four hands with Shanku, Chakra, and Abhaya hastam with his consort Lakshmi Devi. In temple premises there is a separate temple for Deveri of Sri Lakshmi NarasimhaSwami. In this temple we can see Goddess Sri Chenchu Lakshmi and Lakshmi Ammavaru one after other in a row. It is believed that Goddesses blesses the childless couples with children and the unmarried Girls will get married if they pray the Goddesses.
BRAHMOTSAVAMS
Tarigonda Sri Lakshmi NarasimhaSwami Brahmotsavams will be performed every year in the month of Phalgunamasam for Nine days apart from daily poojas. During Brahmotsavams different vahana sevas including Radhotsavam and kalyanotsavam will be performed in a grand style. Besides Brahmotsavam, every year Sri Nrusimhajayanthi will be performed in the month of Vaisakamasam.
Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Daily Feeding Centre
To the northeast of the main temple, there is a tall three-storeyed building of catering free food, known as Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Daily Feeding Centre (Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Nithya Annadanam Complex). Pilgrims can get tiffins and free food (prasadam) here. Devotees can visit it to witness the marathon task of feeding and relish free food. It is said that in the past Tarigonda Vengamamba used to disburse food to Tirumala pilgrims daily at this place. Hence, free food centre is established in the same place in her name. Let us wish happiness to all those who contribute to this feeding centre with the blessings of the Lord!
ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES
There aro no accommodation facilities in Tarigonda. It is advisable to stay at Madanapalli and Tirupati. Tarigonda is 100 kilometers from Tirupati, 6 kilometres from Vaalmikipuram (Vayalpadu),18 kilometres from Madanapalli, 95 Kilometres from Kadapa. There are number of buses from Madanapalli. The visit of Tarigonda generates Peace and Tranquility.
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