An Introduction to Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya
Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya, popularly known as Annamayya, is a 15th-century mystic Telugu saint-poet. He was one of the earliest known musicians of India to compose more than 32,000 devotional songs known as Sankeertanalu in praise of Trimula Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
His songs are beautiful combinations of devotion, philosophy, ethics, and spiritualism. Most of his songs are sung in typical Telugu folk style and some in Carnatic Classical style, which continue to be sung and cherished even today.
- Name: Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya
- Popular As: Annamayya
- Regarded As Pada Kavita Pitamahudu, Toli Telugu Vaggeyakarudu
- Born In: 1408 CE
- Birth Place: Tallapaka, a small village in the then Kadapa (Now Annamayya) District, Andhra Pradesh
- Father / Mother: Narayana Suri / Lakkamamba
- Mother Tongue: Telugu
- Occupation: Saint, Poet, Composer, Writer, Singer
The Story of Annamayya's Birth
A Telugu Brahmin noble couple of the late 14th-century named Narayana Suri and Lakkamamba were living in Tallapaka, a small village in the present Annamayya District of Andhra Pradesh. They were great devotees of Sri Venkateswara Swamy of Tirumala. They did not have progeny (children) for a long time. Daily they prayed Sri Venkateswara to bless them with a child.
The couple visited Tirumala to seek the blessig of Sri Venkateswara. While they prostrated (Saashtanga Namaskaram before the Dhwaja Sthambham (the sacred mast in front of the temples), a dazzling light struck them. Later in 1408 CE, the couple was blessed with a baby boy whom they named Annamayya.
Life History of Annamayya
Being born to a traditional Telugu Brahmin family of the Niyogi sect, Annamayya could easily study and grasp the sacred texts / literature.
He studied the devotional philosophy of Visishtadvaita (non-dualism) and later embraced Vaishnavism. His wife, Timmakka is one of the earliest known poets in the Telugu literature who wrote "Subhadra Kalynam".
From a very young age, his mind was fully detached from the worldly pleasures. He spent his entire life in composing Sankeertanas and Padams mostly on Sri Venkateswara. He is credited with having composed more than 32,000 Sankeertanas. He also authored:
- 12 Satakams (a literary work consisting of 100 verses)
- Ramayana in the form of Dwipada Sankeertana Lakshnam
- Sringara Manjari
- Venkatachala Mahatyam
Annamayya is one of the greatest saint-poets of Telugu literature and devotional music. Most of his works are in Telugu and Sanskrit languages. He enriched the Telugu literature with his poetic works and is regarded as "Telugu Padakavi Pitamaha", the grand old man of Telugu poetry.
So also, Annamayya, enriched Telugu music with his devotional lyrical compositions. He is the first known composer of Telugu Keertanas and is widely regarded as "Toli Telugu Vaggeyakara" i.e. the first lyricist, composer and singer of the Telugu classical music.
Annamayya is also one of the earliest known musicians of India to compose more than 32,000 keertanas. His songs are a beautiful combination of devotion, philosophy, ethics, and spiritualism. Most of his songs are sung in typical Telugu folk style and some in Carnatic classical style, which continue to be sung and cherished even today.
Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya is believed to be the incarnation of Hari Nandaka Khadgam i.e. the Divine sword Nandakam of Sri Maha Vishnu. He wrote his works on Taalapatralu i.e. palm leaves. Later these were engraved on copper plates by his son Tirumalarcharya and grandson Chinna Tirumalacharya.
There copper plates are treasured in Sankeertana Bhandaram (storehouse), a rock built cell exactly opposite the Hundi at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala. And this musical treasure was remained unnoticed for over 400 years which came into light in the recent past.
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| Courtesy: Annamayya.org |
Annamayya Sankeertanas
Annamayya offered / dedicated his spiritual compositions to Sri Venkateswara. Through his lyrical compositions, Annamayya expressed complete surrender to the Supreme God. Annamayya expressed intense devotion, philosophical reflection and divine love through his musical works. Basically his compositions were in local folk lore which were later given the classic tune by many great classical musicians of South India.
Annamayya was given the position of Asthana (court) singer at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala and he used to sing in various occasions and temple festivals.
Annamayya composed Sringara (divine romantic) Keertanas, Bhakti (devotional) Sankeertanas as well as Adhyatma (spirituality) Keertanas. His Sringara Keertanas are based on the divine romance of Sri Venkateswara and Padmavati Ammavaru (aka Alamelu Manga).
In his Adhyatma Keertanas, Annamayya emphasised on spiritual equality and was against the then prevailing caste discrimination in the society. This lead to describe him as one of the earliest social reformers by the scholars.
There are hundreds of his compositions that gained much popularity and are sung in various occasions. There are no sufficient words to describe about this great Telugu Saint Poet who breathed his last in 1503 CE and reached the heavenly abode of Vaikuntham
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) had set up a project named Annamayya Project in view of preserving the great works of Annamayya and promote Bhakti Bhavam (devotion) among the public.
Annamayya's Popular Sankeertanas
Some of his popular and greatest compositions include:
- "Adivo Alladivo Sri Harivasamu": spontaneously composed in ecstasy at the very sight of the sacred Tirumala Hills. This is one of his foremost and most popular compositions.
- "Jo Atchyutananda Jo Jo Mukunda" is a bed time song sung during Pavalimpa Seva (bed-time) of the Sri Venkateswara.
- "Pidikita Tambrala Pellikuturu" is yet another wonderful composition sung during Padmavati-Srinivasa Kalyanotsavam (marriage fesitval).
- 'Ksheerabdi Kanyakaku' is one of his most popular compositions sung at the time of Haarati during Ksheeradhi Dwadasi / Tulasi Puja.
ॐ Insights into Hinduism by Sobha Kalyani Chivukula