Mee Telugu Ammayi

Tarigonda Vengamamba was a poetess and staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara in the 18th century. She wrote numerous poems and songs.Vengamamba was born into a family of Nandavareeks sect of brahmins in 1730 A.D. Her father was Krishnayamatya and mother was Mangamamba. Since childhood, she was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara and her devotion made the villagers believe that she was insane. Married at a very early age (common practice in those times), she lost her husband Venkatachalapathi and became a child-widow. However, she refused to accept anyone but the Lord as her husband and continued to dress as a married woman(such as wearing mangalsutra, non-white clothing, bottu/bindi).She studied yoga sciences under Acharya (professor) Subrahmnayudu and became a yogini. As a result, she faced resentment of the local priest in Tarikonda, and shifted to Tirumala. She was welcomed by the priest and descendants of Annamayya, all who had heard of her devotion prior to her move. ...