6. Dogmatic rituals for the widow - Vengamamba.

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6. Dogmatic rituals for the widow - Vengamamba.

 

It was customary to remove the hair and Bindi of a Brahmin

widow. Vengamamba did not agree. One day an old lady came to her. She

informed her of the ritual to be performed but Vengamamba laughed it

away. `I am not a widow. I am a Nitya Sumangali. I am married to the

Divine Lord Venkateswara. So I don't have to undergo this

ritual.'

 

The villagers could not appreciate her Bhakti then.

Selfishness over took their understanding of her. They felt that her

unreasonable behaviour would bring curse to the village. They cursed her

but she coolly said that the curses would boomerang on them. That

irritated them all the more. They ill-treated her in various possible

ways. They called her names, they threw stones at her, they pulled her

long hair, they made fun of her, but Vengamamba was unperturbed. The

wiseacres of the village put their heads together to solve this problem.

They unanimously decided that they should take a barber with them and

should get her hair removed by hook or crook.

 

Seetha came for delivery for the second time. Once bitten,

twice shy is the saying. Seetha's mother didn't want Seetha to

meet her good old friend, but Seetha couldn't resist her temptation.

She met Vengamamba secretly. Vengamamba spoke to her affectionately and

said, `Seetha, you will be blessed by twins! You are lucky. You will

beget boy babies. She offered her a banana as prasadam. She added,

`This Pooja Mandir is my house, Lord Venkateswara is my husband.

What else do I need?' Seetha was thrilled to have such a saint as

her bosom friend.

 

Just as Seetha left, two village heads entered. They asked

rudely whether she had changed her mind. When she answered in the

negative, many more surrounded her. One tied her hands together with his

upper cloth, while the barber removed her hair on the head in a jiffy.

 

Vengamamba stared at them angrily. The village munsif's

leg became paralyzed and the barber's hand became paralyzed. The

villagers, shocked, left the place mutely. Vengamamba dipped herself in

the lake beside, chanting the name of God.

 

What a surprise! When she got out of water, she became her

previous self with long, black hair! The news spread like wild fire and

the villagers who cursed, teased and made fun of her all along made her

an `Amma' at once. They formed a queue before her house to seek

her blessings. They felt she was a reincarnation of Alivelu Manga and

called her `Devudamma.'

 

The paralyzed munsif and barber had not changed for better.

They developed hatred for her and successfully poisoned the brains of a

few foolish people who in turn poisoned some more weaklings. The village

was torn into two groups.

 

Vengamamba made a boy eat a banana when he had not touched

food for two days. Such miraculous powers convinced some but others

argued against those. The anti Vengamamba party was still knee bent on

following the religious practice but who would bell the cat? As if

answering their prayers Sri Sankaracharya Paramparaacharyulu visited

their place. The villagers received him with all the pomp and show. They

gave a written complaint to him. Swami also wanted to see her. He opined

that he could bring about a change in her. The villagers too pinned

their faith on him.

 

She was sent for. She said she would go after, she had her

dinner. How dare she could answer thus! She was summoned again and the

same answer was received again.

 

Finally she arrived with a coconut in her hand. She stood

before the Swami's throne, lost in prayer of her Swami. She was

asked to greet the Swamiji but she paid deaf ear. The Swamiji himself

asked why she was not willing to do so. She said, `Swami, first you

step out of that throne, then I will fold my hands to you. The Swamiji

was surprised but still obliged her. The onlookers were eagerly staring

at Vengamamba with expectant looks. She folded her hands not in the

direction of the Swamiji, but in the direction of the throne. And Lo!

The next minute the whole `Simhasan' was burnt down to ashes

with a thundering noise. The frightened mob ran helter-skelter to save

their skins.

 

The Swamiji was thankful to Vengamamba as a saviour of his

life. So, instead of giving a lecture to her, he aimed his lecture at

the stupidity of the villagers of Tarigonda. He said, `She is like

the eclipsed sun. She is a great Jnani, yogi, enriched by the wealth of

Bhakti and Vairagya. You don't curse her. If you do so, you will

lose all your Punya!'

 

The speech of the Swamiji was an eye-opener to the villagers.

They praised her and her Lord. Vengamamba sang a Keertana then in praise

of the Swamiji.

 

Sankaracharya guruni sannuthimpare

 

Nishkalanka paramayoga mabhyasimpare.

 

Vengamamba questioned the Swamiji, `O.K. I will oblige you

and get my hair cut totally, but can you assure me that it won't

crop up again?' The Swamiji had no answer. He in turn, advised the

crowd to pray to her as a saint.

 

One day Seetha saw Vengamamba on her way to the temple. What

a glow in her? She looked exactly like Alivelu Manga. When she called

her friend, she took her to the temple with her. They both sat on the

temple steps for a long time. Vengamamba sang many songs. Seetha asked

her to bless her sons. Vengamamba named them Sreenivas and Venkatesh and

asked her to call them Sreenu and Venku. Seetha was delighted at the

blessings of Devudamma and decided to call them so whether others liked

it or not.