7. Spiritual Growth of Vengamamba

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7. Spiritual Growth of Vengamamba

 

Time was passing by. Vengamamba was becoming more and more

spiritual. She had been writing many books. She had been composing many

songs. She was spending her time in Lakshmi Nrusimha temple in her

village. Her food was Prasadam, her water was `Kolanu' water,

her pastime was dance. Devotees who came to the temple prayed to her

too!

 

Great people create enemies to themselves without their

knowledge. She still was not free from petty jealousies of the Brahmins.

They could not bear her prayers to God; they could not bear a woman

opposing them. They all decided to chain her with iron chains. The

villagers came to know of it and gathered there to watch the Tamasha.

Some felt sorry for her and even prayed for her.

 

Vengamamba approached them with `Tulasimala' in her

hand. Some tried to warn her, but she ignored them. She saw the chains

in the Brahmins hands and volunteered to be chained. The Brahmins tied

her hands with the chains and jeered at her `Come on; pray now to

your God.' Unable to bear their atrocities some onlookers closed

their eyes.

 

Vengamamba burst out into laughter and the iron chains broke

open! What a sight! The people fell to her feet but the Brahmins ran out

of sight. Human psychology is unpredictable. Some doubt masters doubted

her capacity still. They said the chains must have been brittle.

Whatever it was, the Brahmins still could not come out of their petty

jealousies.

 

Vengamamba, unmindful of the bitterness of her enemies was

lost in her Keertanas. She was composing songs on God, in the temple.

The Brahmins decided to close the temple doors against her.

 

The next morning, when Vengamamba reached the temple with

flowers, the doors were closed! `Won't my God allow me

inside?' She thought as she put her hand on the door. Lo! The doors

opened on their own letting her into her God's presence. Vengamamba

went in and started her prayer.

 

The priests who were watching her from a distance came to the

temple to enter it. Oh no! The plan boomeranged on them. The door closed

against them. Still they were not disheartened. They waited outside till

she came out and tied her feet with ropes. They were cut off as thin

threads. They threw stones at her but they became a shower of flowers.

The shoulders which helped them to throw stones suddenly became very

painful. They showered their complaints to learned pundits but in vain.

 

Vengamamba was lost in her prayer. Her name and fame spread

far and wide and people flocked together to have her darshan. But

unfortunately the priests who live in the presence of God could not see

God in her. There was practically no transformation in them. They went

to the extent of building a brick wall against her.

 

God takes care of his devotees when nobody takes care of them.

There was a tunnel behind the brick wall. She came out of it through the

tunnel and reached Venkatachala Aranya.

 

On the contrary the priests here were not happy with their

evil deed. They threw stones waste material and what not, inside. Their

sadistic pleasure grew to its peak one day. They wanted to burn her

alive. They gathered junk there and lit fire. The tongues of flame let

the tongues of people utter different opinions. Some kind hearted people

could not sit with their fingers crossed when a staunch devotee had to

face a miserable death. So they fought with the priests and broke open

the wall. What a wonder There was no trace of her alive or dead! How

could she disappear so mysteriously? The villagers were worried that

this might bring ill-fate to the villagers. They cursed the priests.

They wondered as to where Vengamamba could be!