Dokka Seethamma

She was regarded as a veritable Annapurna(Goddess of food) in the Godavari Delta region for feeding many a hungry person hit by floods and drought there. An ordinary woman without much education, who fed every person seeking food, like a mother.

Dokka Seethamma was born during month of October, 1841 at Mandapeta in Konaseema region, to Anupindi Bhavani Sankaram and Narasamma. She had her schooling at home primarily, listening to stories, songs, poems from her parents. With her mother passing away when she was quite young, the burden of running the household fell on her shoulders. Dokka Joganna Panthulu, one of the richer landlords and a Vedic scholar in the region, was passing through Mandapeta, after returning from a scholarly Sabha. It was afternoon, and they began to feel hungry.

Having heard of Bhavani Sankaram’s hospitality, they came to his home, where Seethamma served them with care and affection. Impressed by her devout, kind nature, Joganna sent a marriage proposal, which was duly accepted. They had a blissful and happy married life,and their home was known for their hospitality. Lanka Gannavaram was one of the Lanka villages in the Godavari, surrounded by the river, and accesible only by boat. Many travellers used to rest there during their travels, and the couple would always serve food to the hungry visitors, never turning away any one.

In those days, the villages in the Godavari delta region were frequently hit by floods, rendering many homeless and often hungry. During all such occassions she would provide relief to such people, housing and feeding them. Once while travelling to Antarvedi by Palanquin, her attendants stopped on the roadside, for some rest. A group of people travelling in the opposite side, had kids who were feeling hungry. She overheard them saying “In another 30 minutes we would be at Gannavaram, where Seetamma would serve us food”. She immediately asked her attendants to go back to Gannavaram, cancelling her Antarvedi visit, saying she needed to serve them first.

However at one point, the couple lost all their wealth, due to their generosity and had fallen on hard days. The woman who fed every mouth, was herself feeling the pangs of hunger, and her husband asked “When we ourselves have nothing to eat, how can we feed others” To which she replied

“I feed someone believing every guest to be none other than Shree Maha Vishnu himself. Why would some one cut off the hand that feeds them, they will only feed us when time comes”.

The same day her husband, found a pot of gold coins when digging in the fields, and once again prosperity dawned on the couple. Even after her husband passed away, she refused to be confined to her home, and kept reaching out to the poor and needy. Having no children of hers, she saw every one around as her own child. Not just food, she also helped them with their marriages. She never accepted any donations from any one, spending on her own always.

The stories of her charity spread as King Edward VIII, invited her to the celebration of his anniversary along with others from India. When she declined, he ordered the Collector of Godavari districts to at least get her photograph to honor in the assembly. When the Collector visited her, she however declined saying

“ I am not doing Anna Dana for publicity or felicitations, I do it out of belief that am serving Shree Maha Vishnu himself. Of what use are these to me”

When the Collector said, it was the order of the King himself, and he could actually lose his job if not carried out, she relented and allowed her photograph to be taken. The British Govt later sent a letter appreciating her for her noble work.

However her later years were spent in poverty as she lost most of her lands, but even during such times, she never hesitated to feed anyone who came to her home, with whatever she had. Her only wish was to go to Varanasi, however when she set out, she heard a family suffering from hunger, and immediately turned back, when she heard them saying that when they reach Sitamma’s home, they would be fed.

The great lady passed away in 1909, but her legacy lives on in many ways. Dokka Seethamma was truly an Apara Annapurna who fed and nourished many a hungry soul, a truly blessed life.