Alamelu

Alamelu (Tamil: அலமேலு, Telugu: అలమేలు) also known as Alamelmanga, (Padmavati is wife of lord venkateswara and alamelumangamma is another and they are separate.) (often spelled "Padmavathi" or "Padmavathy"), is a Hindu devi. Believed to be a form of Lakshmi, the Hindu devi of wealth and good fortune, Alamelu is the consort of Sri Venkateshwara. The name Padmavati is Sanskrit for "she who emerged from lotus".

The main temple to Sri Alamelu is situated at Thiruchanoor, also known as "Alamelu-Mangapuram", a suburban of Tirupati City. Tradition dictates that every pilgrim to Tirupati must offer obeisance at this temple "before" proceeding to the temple at Tirupati-Tirumala balaji.

Particular devotions

"Alamelu Manga Thayar" is a major focus of devotion among those belonging to the Iyengar sect of brahmins, next only to Vishnu/Venkateshwara himself, if that. In particular, the Thangalai Iyengars believe that her intercession is indispensable to gaining the favour of the lord. Sri Alamelu is the mother-goddess figure for staunch Srivaishnavites.

The great Vaishnavite saint and Telugu Bhakti poet Sri Annamacharya, was a staunch devotee of Sri Alamelu Mangamma. Indeed, it is a rare composition of the great saint that does not invoke the benedictions of the goddess and sing her praises. Many of the most famous and popular "Kritis" of Annamacharya eulogize in loving adulation the many graces of his "Ishta devata" and the many boons she is wont to bestow with facile benevolence on her devotees.

Etymology

The name "Alamelu Manga" or more correctly "Alarmel Mangai" is a Tamil term which translates to Sanskrit "Padmavati". The name is a conjoint of the words "Alar" (lotus) and "Mel" (aloft or up); "Mangai" means "(auspicious) lady" in pure Tamil. Thus, "Alarmel Mangai" softened over time to "Alamelu Manga" translates to Lady of the Lotus which is the same meaning as the Sanskrit word "Padmavati".

The name "Alamelu" has traditionally been a surpassingly popular one in south India. Apart from that basic name, several variations are popular.

The word "Mangai/Manga/Mangamma" (auspicious lady) very commonly forms part of many names. Occasionally, this is replaced by the word "Valli" (literally: creeper or heather; compare "Lata" in Sanskrit), a metaphor for gentle lady in Tamil, to create the popular names "Alarmel Valli" and "Alamelu Valli". Of course, the name "Alamelu" is very generally used as a stand-alone name for girls.

ee also

*Venkateshwara
*Lakshmi
*Tirumala - Tirupati
*Tirupathi
*Annamacharya
*Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, a university named after Padmavati

References

* [http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tpt_tiruchanoor.htm The Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam website]
* [http://www.alamelu.com Sri Alamelu Mangamma website]