Annamacharya

Commemorative stamp of Annamacharya (2004,India)

Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya (శ్రీ తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) (1408-1503), the mystic saint composer of the 15th century is the earliest known musician of South India to compose songs called “sankIrtanas” in praise of Lord Venkateswara, the deity of Seven Hills in Tirumala, India. He is widely regarded as the Telugu pada kavita pitaamaha (Grand old man of simple poetry).

Biography

Annamacharya was born on Vaisakhapoornima in the year Sarwadhari (May 9, 1408) in Tallapaka, a remote village in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, and lived immaculately for 95 years until Phalguna Bahula Dwadasi (12th day after full moon) in the year Dhundhubhi (February 23, 1503).

Sankirtana (songs)

An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati, AP, Annamacharya( also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 32,000 Sankirtanas (a Carnatic composition) in the carnatic music tradition, a feat which is near impossible to replicate! Enjoying popularity in his own days, his compositions were forgotten for over three centuries for some inexplicable reason. They were later found engraved on copper plates, hidden for centuries inside the Sri Venkateswara temple atTirumala.

Annamacharya considered his compositions as floral offerings to God. In the poems, he praises Venkateswara, describes his love for him, argues and quarrels with the Lord, confesses the devotee’s failures and apprehensions, and surrenders himself to Venkateshwara. His songs are classified into Adhyaatama (spiritual) and Sringaara (romantic) samkirtanaas.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been successfully endeavouring to preserve the rich heritage of his compositions. The sustained efforts of dedicated scholars and musicians during the last thirty years have also helped revive their popularity among the Telugu people.

External links

http://kathiravan.bravehost.com