Annamacharya

Tallapaka Annamacharya (IAST: taḷḷapāka

annamācārya; 22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503), also popularly Tallapaka
known as Annamayya, was a 15th-century Hindu saint and
the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called Annamacharya
sankirtanas in praise of the Venkateswara, a form of
Vishnu.[1] The musical form of the keertana songs that he
composed, which are still popular among Carnatic music
concert artists,[2] have strongly influenced the structure of
Carnatic music compositions.[3] Annamacharya is
remembered for his saintly life, and is honoured as a great
devotee of Vishnu by devotees and saintly singers.[4]

He is believed to have been the avatar of Nandaka, the

sword of Vishnu. He is widely regarded as the Andhra
Pada kavitā Pitāmaha (Grandfather of Telugu song-
writing).[1]

Contents
Personal life This statue is at Dwaraka
Literary career Tirumala
Legacy
Background information
Famous compositions
See also Also known as Annamayya,
References Pada Kavitha
Further reading Pitaamahudu
External links Born 22 May 1408
Tallapaka,
Personal life Vijayanagara
Tallapaka Annamacharya was born on Vaishakha Shuddha
Empire
Pournami in the year Sarwadhari (22 May 1408) in (modern-day
Tallapaka, Near Rajampet Mandal, a village in present-day
Andhra
Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India.[5] Even though
his parents belonged to the Nandavarika Brahmin Pradesh, India)
community of Smarta tradition, he took initiation into
Vaishnavism and became a Vaishnava in the Died 4 April 1503
Ramanujacharya Sampradaya.[6][7] His wife, Timmakka,[8] (aged 94)
had written Subhadra Kalyanam, and is considered the
first female poet in Telugu literature. Their son, Pedda Tirumala,
Tirumalacharya, and grandson, Tallapaka Chinnayya, were Vijayanagara
also composers and poets. The Tallapaka compositions are
considered to have dominated and influenced the structure Empire
of Carnatic music compositions.[3] Annamacharya lived for (modern-day
95 years until Phalguna Bahula (Krishna) Dvadasi (12th day
Andhra
after full moon) in the year Dhundhubhi (4 April 1503).
Pradesh, India)
Literary career Genres Carnatic
Annamayya is said to have composed as many as 32,000 music
sankeertanas (songs) on the praise of lord Venkateswara of
which only about 12,000 are available today. He is also the Occupation(s) Saint, poet,
author of musical treatise called "Sankirthana composer,
lakshanamu".[1] writer
Annamayya considered his compositions as floral offerings Instruments Tambura
to Venkateswara. In the poems, he praises the deity,
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 the Adhyaatma (spiritual) and Sringaara (romantic)
sankeertanas genres. His songs in the "Sringaara" genre worship
Venkateswara by describing the romantic adventures of
Venkateshwara and his consort Alamelu, while others describe
the Bhakti of his devotees.

In his later keertanas, he espouses subjects such as morality,

dharma and righteousness. He was one of the first few who
opposed the social stigma towards the untouchable castes in his
era,[9] with his sankeertanas explaining that the relationship
between God and human is the same irrespective of the latter's
color, caste and financial status, in his songs "Brahmaṃ Okkatē
Paraḥbrahmamokkatē" and "ē kulajuḍainanēmi
evvaḍainanēmi". His prodigious literary career earned him a
place among the all-time greats of Telugu literature.[10] A statue of Tallapaka
Annamacharya situated at the
Sarada River Park in Anakapalle,
Legacy Andhra Pradesh.

While he enjoyed popularity in his days, his compositions were

forgotten for over three centuries. Mentioned in 1849,[11] they were later found engraved on copper
plates, hidden for centuries inside the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, just opposite the Hundi,
concealed in a very small room. An English translation of 150 of these verses was published in
2005.[12]
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, also known as TTD, has been
endeavoring to preserve the rich heritage of his compositions. In
the year 1950, The State Government of Andhra Pradesh created
a committee and appointed the legendary musician late Dr. M.
Balamuralikrishna as its head. He set music to over 800
compositions of Annamacharya and are still popular among the
devotees. He was the Āsthāna Gāyaka of the Tirumala temple at
Tirupati for two decades. He is regarded as a legend in rendering
devotional music in classical style, especially the Annamacharya
Sankirtanas. He was also an acclaimed poet, singer, and a 10-story tall statue of Sri
musicologist. In 1979, the legendary singer Smt. M. S. Tallapaka Annamacharya located
Subbulakshmi's album Balaji Pancharatna Mala came up with at the entrance of Tallapaka.
Annamacharya keerthanas like Vande Vasudevam,
Bhavamulona, Sriman Narayana and many more. This became a
hit and took the compositions of Annamacharya to every nook and corner of the country.

Shobha Raju is the first recipient of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams scholarship in 1976 to study and
set a trend for the propagation of Annamacharya's compositions, and was also chosen as the first
exclusive artiste for the propagation of Tallapaka's compositions in 1978. Her first audio album,
"Vēnkatēśvara Gīta Mālika" is globally popular among Telugu community. She is the founder of
Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini (ABV) in 1983, which is located in Hyderabad, India. She has been
awarded Padmashri by Government of India, in 2010 in recognition of her efforts to promote
Annamayya Compositions. Sri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, a Carnatic music exponent and the
asthana vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has set tune to more than six hundred songs
written by Annamacharya, gave audio recordings for TTD, published books with musical notations
and conducted classes, teaching the songs to make them more popular.

In 1994, reputed Bharathanatyam artist Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, also the daughter in law of the
legendary singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, for the first time produced and presented a
mammoth dance production as a tribute to the divine composer titled "Annamaiyah". Rare and
popular songs were woven into a story format and music by legendary stalwarts was set to action. This
production was inaugurated by the former President of India R. Venkatraman and Bharat Ratna-
winning singer M. S. Subbulakshmi and later that year for the Tirumala Brahmotsavam. The
production went on to become a sensational hit and more dancers of different forms started
choreographing for the saints' composition. Based on popular demand in 2009, a DVD of the
production was also launched which included several places visited by the saint himself. The
production has traveled across the US, Europe, and Asia and staged over 400 times till now.

A Telugu film named Annamayya was made on him by K. Raghavendra Rao in 1997. It starred
Nagarjuna in the lead role as Annamacharya and also featured Suman as Lord Venkateshwara and
Bhanupriya as Goddess Padmavathi Devi in important roles. The film became a huge blockbuster and
was the highest grosser of the year in Telugu cinema.

Kadayanallur Venkatraman, a brilliant composer has tuned a lot of Annamacharya's kritis with
beautiful ragas for M.S.Subbulakshmi, who unveiled these forgotten kritis and brought them to the
stage.

In 2017, one of Annamayya's compositions, Brahmam Okate, became a YouTube sensation. As of

early-2019, this video alone (produced by Kuldeep M. Pai) has garnered over 11 million views and
made the child singers Sooryagayathri and Rahul Vellal household names for their flawless rendering
of the classic keerthana. Professional singers P. Unnikrishnan[13] and Sreeranjini Kodampally[14]
have their performances of the composition on YouTube.

Famous compositions
This is a partial list of some of the most famous Tallapaka Annamacharya compositions.

Note – (చ =Ca; ఛ=Cha; శ=Śa; ష=Ṣ. For more see Romanization of Telugu)
 Composition (Sorted
Raga Tala Music Set By Language Other Info
Alphabetically)
Adivō Alladivō
Śriharivāsamu Dr. Shobha
Madhyamavati Adi Telugu
అదివో అల్లదివో Raju
శ్రీహరివాసము
Alara Cañcalamaina
Ātmalanduṇḍa Garimella
khanDa [15]
Rāga mālika Balakrishna Telugu
అలర చంచలమైన cApu
Prasad
ఆత్మ లందుండ

Alarulu Kuriayaga Āḍinadē Rallapalli

Ananta
అలరులు కురియగ Sankarabharanam Telugu
Krishna
ఆడినదే
Sharma
Anni mantramulu nindē
yāvahiñcenu [16]
Amritavarshini Telugu
అన్ని మంత్రములు ఇందే
ఆవహించెనూ
Adi
Antarangamella Sri Hariki Nedunuri
(Tisra Telugu
"అంతరంగ మెళ్ళ శ్రీ హరికి' Krishnamurthy
Nadaka)
Antaryāmi Alaśiti Solaśiti
అంతర్యా మి అలసితి Shivaranjani Telugu
సొలసితి
Bhāvayāmi Gōpālabālaṁ
Manassēvitaṁ Khanda Kadayanallur [17]
Yamunā Kaḷyāṇi Sanskrit
భావయామి గోపాలబాలం Chapu Venkataraman
మనస్సే వితం
Bhāvamulōna
Bāhyamunandunu Nedunuri [18]
Śuddha Dhanyasi Adi Telugu
భావములోన Krishnamurthy
బాహ్య మునందును
Rallapalli
Brahma Kaḍigina Pādamu Ananta
Mukhāri Adi Telugu
బ్రహ్మ కడిగిన పాదము Krishna
Sharma
Tatva
Brahmam Okate Dr. Shobha
Bowli Adi Telugu Prabōdha
తందనాన అహి Raju
Keertana
Cakkani Talliki Chāngu
Bhaḷā Telugu
చక్క ని తల్లికి ఛాంగుభళా
Cāladā Harināma Telugu
Saukhyāmr̥ tamu
చాలదా హరినామ
సౌఖ్యా మృతము
Cēri Yaśōdaku Śiśuvitaḍu
Mohanam Adi Telugu
చేరి యశోదకు శిశువితఁడు
Candamāma Rāve Jābilli
Rāve
Telugu
చందమామ రావే జాబిల్లి
రావే
Dēvadēvaṁ Bhajē Divya
Prabhāvaṁ
దేవదేవం భజే దివ్య Khanda Sripada
Hindolam Sanskrit
Chapu Pinakapani
ప్రభావం
देवदेवं भजे दिव्यप्रभावम्
ḍōlāyāṁ Cālā ḍōlāyāṁ Thisra
Khamas Telugu
డోలాయాం చల డోలాయాం Adi
ēmokō ciguruṭadharamuna
eḍaneḍakastūri niṃḍenu
Telugu
ఏమకో చిగురుటధరమున
కస్తూ రి నిండెను
ē Purāṇamuna Eṁta
Vedakinā
Telugu
ఏ పురాణమున ఎంత
వెదకినా
GovindāŚrita Gōkula Br̥ ndā
Madhuvanti Telugu
గోవిందాశ్రిత గోకుల బృందా
Harināmame Kaḍu
Ānandakaramu
Jonpuri Telugu
హరినామమే కడు
ఆనందకరము
Indariki Abhayammuliccu
Cēyi
Telugu
ఇందరికి
అభయమ్ము లిచ్చు చేయి
Ippuḍiṭu Kalagaṃṭi
Telugu
ఇప్పు డిటు కలగంటి
Itarulaku Ninneruga
Taramā
Telugu
ఇతరులకు నిన్నె రుగ
తరమా
Jō Acyutānanda Jō Jō
Mukundā [19]
Navroj Telugu
జో అచ్యు తానంద జో జో
ముకుందా

Ś
Kanṭi Śukravāramu Telugu [20]
Gaḍiyalēḍiṁṭa
కంటి శుక్రవారము
గడియలేడింట
Koṁḍalalō Nelakonna
Kōnēṭi Rāyaḍu Vāḍu
Hindolam Telugu
కొండలలో నెలకొన్న కోనేటి
రాయడు వాడు
kṣīrābdi kanyakaku Śrī
Mahālakṣmikini Khanda
Kurinji(raga) Telugu
క్షీరాబ్ది కన్య కకు శ్రీ Chapu
మహాలక్ష్మి కిని
Kulukaka Naḍavārō
Kommalārā [21]
Atana Adi Telugu
కులుకక నడవరో
కొమ్మ లారా
Madhava Kesava
Madhusoodhana
మాధవ కేశవ మధుసూదన Kapi Adi Sanskrit
విష్ణు
माधव के शव मधुसूदना
Mēdini Jīvula Gāva
Mēlukōvayyā
Telugu
మీదిని జీవుల గావ
మేలుకోవయ్యా
Muddugārē Yaśōda
Muṅgiṭa Mutayamu vīḍu Nedunuri [22]
Kuranji Adi Telugu
ముద్దుగారే యశోద ముంగిట Krishnamurthy
ముత్య ము వీడు
Mūsina Mutyālakēlē
Moragulu
Telugu
మూసిన ముత్యా లకేలే
మొరగులు
Nallani Mēni Nagavu
Chūpulavāḍu
Telugu
నల్లని మేని నగవు
చూపులవాడు
Namo Namo Raghukula-
Nattai Sanskrit
naayaka (Sanskrit)
Nānāṭi Batuku Nāṭakamu Nedunuri
Rēvati Adi Telugu
నానాటి బతుకు నాటకము Krishnamurthy
Nārāyaṇa Tē Namō Bihag Adi ' Sanskrit
Namō(composed by both
Annamayya and Purandara
Dasa )
నారాయణ తే నమో నమో
नारायण ते नमो नमो
Neyyamullallō Nērēḷḷo
Voyyana ūreḍi Uvviḷḷo
Telugu
నెయ్య ములల్లో నేరేళ్ళో
వొయ్య న ఊరెడి ఉవ్వి ళ్ళో
Nitya Pūjalivivō
Nericinānōhō [23]
Telugu
నిత్య పూజలివివో
నేరిచినానోహో
Paluku Tēnelatalli
Pavaḷincenu
Telugu
పలుకు తేనెలతల్లి
పవళించెను
Poḍaganṭimayya mimmu
Puruṣōttamā
Mohanam Adi Telugu
పొడగంటిమయ్యా మిమ్ము
పురుషోత్తమా
Śriman Narāyaṇā Śriman
Narāyaṇā Nī Śri Pādamē
Śaraṇu
శ్రీమన్నా రాయణ Bowli Adi Telugu
శ్రీమన్నా రాయణ నీ
శ్రీపాదమే శరణు
Rajīva Nētrāya Raghavāya
Namō
రాజీవ నేత్రాయ రాఘవాయ Khanda
Madhyamavathi K. J. Yesudas Sanskrit
Chapu
నమో
राजीवनेत्राय राघवाय नमो
Ramacandruḍitaḍu
Raghuvīruḍu
Telugu
రామచంద్రుడితడు
రఘువీరుడు
Siruta Navvulavāḍu
Sinnakka
Telugu
సిరుత నవ్వు లవాడు
సిన్న క్కా
Ṣōḍaśa Kaḷānidhiki
Ṣoḍaśōpacāramulu
Telugu
షోడశ కళానిధికి
షోడశోపచారములు
Tvamēva Śaraṇam
త్వ మేవ శరణం Telugu
त्वमेव शरणम्
Vandēhaṁ Jagadvallabhaṁ Hamsadhvani Khanda Sanskrit In praise of
 Sanskrit: वन्देहं जगद्वल्लभं Chapu lord
Telugu: వందేహం Venkaṭēśvara
జగద్వ ల్లభం
Vandē Vāsudēvaṁ Śrīpatiṁ
Khanda
వందే వాసుదేవం శ్రీపతిం Sri Sanskrit
Chapu
वन्दे वासुदेवं श्रीपतिम्
Vēḍukoṁdāmā Vēṅkaṭagiri
Veṅkaṭeśvaruni
Veḍukoṁdāmā
వేడుకొందామా వేంకటగిరి Telugu
వేంకటేశ్వ రుని
వేడుకొందామా
Vinnapālu Vinavale
Viṁtaviṁtalu
Telugu
విన్న పాలు వినవలె
వింతవింతలు

అన్న మయ్య పాటలు (All Annamayya songs lyrics in Telugu Script)

See also
List of Carnatic composers
Annamacharya sankeertana

References
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2. Jackson (1999), p. 105.
3. Jackson (1999), p. 216.
4. Jackson (1999), p. 265.
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teloogo00camprich#page/xiii/mode/1up) (3 ed.). Hindu Press. p. xiii.
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ISBN 0195182847. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
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and the Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/web/20120917203906/http://www.youtube.
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Unnikrishnan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X55IWF_QbMo), retrieved 8 November 2018
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2013.
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w/index.php/Anni_mantramulu) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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w/index.php/Bhavayami_gopalabalam). Sahityam. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original (htt
p://sahityam.net/w/index.php/Bhavayami_gopalabalam) on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 20 June
2013.
18. "Bhavamulona bahyamunandunu" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140317135350/http://sahitya
m.net/w/index.php/Bhavamulona_bahyamunandunu). Sahityam. Archived from the original (htt
p://sahityam.net/w/index.php/Bhavamulona_bahyamunandunu) on 17 March 2014. Retrieved
20 June 2013.
19. "Jo achyutananda jo jo mukunda" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130527080323/http://sahitya
m.net/w/index.php/Jo_achyutananda_jo_jo_mukunda). Sahityam. 24 January 2012. Archived
from the original (http://sahityam.net/w/index.php/Jo_achyutananda_jo_jo_mukunda) on 27
May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
20. "Kanti sukravaramu" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140317135353/http://sahityam.net/w/inde
x.php/Kanti_sukravaramu). Sahityam. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original (http://sahityam.n
et/w/index.php/Kanti_sukravaramu) on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
21. "Kulukaka nadavaro" (https://archive.today/20130620050839/http://sahityam.net/w/index.php/K
ulukaka_nadavaro). Sahityam. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original (http://sahityam.net/
w/index.php/Kulukaka_nadavaro) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
 22. "Muddugare yasoda" (https://archive.today/20130620050822/http://sahityam.net/w/index.php/
Muddugare_yasoda). Sahityam. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original (http://sahityam.net/
w/index.php/Muddugare_yasoda) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
23. "Nitya pujalivivO" (https://archive.today/20130620050816/http://sahityam.net/w/index.php/Nity
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Further reading
Jackson, William. 'Religious and Devotional Music: Southern Area' (1999). In Porter, James; Rice,
Timothy; Goertzon, Chris. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. New York & London: Taylor
& Francis.

External links
Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (http://www.sapna25.com)
Sri Venkateswara Annamacharya Society of America (http://www.svasa.org)

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