Taallapaaka Annamayya - the saint poet of Andhra Pradesh

Life of Sri Taallapaaka Annamaacharya (1408 - 1503)

Annamaacharya popularly known as Annamayya is the mystic saint point of the 15th century A.D who is one of the earliest known music composers of India. He completely dedicated his life to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala and composed nearly 32,000, out of which only 14,000 are said to be available, songs known as Sankeertanas in praise of the Lord. Annamayya is one of the greatest poets that India has ever produced and he is believed to be the incarnation of Nandaka Khadgam - the sword of Lord Vishnu.

Annamayya was born in 1424 A.D in TallapAka which is a small village in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh to the Tallapaka family which is popular for its poets, music composers and scholars in Telugu and Sankrit languages and popularized Vaishnavite faith in Andhra Pradesh in the 15th and 16th centuries. Annamaacharya was the greatest among them who spent most of his life in composing kIrtanas and padams on Lord Venkateswara. His songs that are presently available are engraved on copper plates and are treasured in the temple of Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala. Though his songs were preserved on copper plates but unfortunately the music could not be preserved and there is no written record for this. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has set a project named Annamayya Project mainly to preserve and promote the works of this great saint poet. Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya is regarded as the Telugu pada kavita pitaamaha (the Grand old man of poetry).

Annamayya is a born poet and at a very young age he devoted his life at the feet of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala. Later on he was initiated into Sri Vaishnavism and came to be known as Annamaacharya. This great poet dedicated his entire work at the feet Lord Venkateswara as a floral offering to the Lord, such a great devotion he had for the Lord.

Taallapaaka Annamayya's compositions

One of his foremost compositions which became very popular is "Adivo Alladivo Sri Harivaasamu" which he sang spontaneously in ecstasy on reaching the sacred hill of Tirumala. In many of his compositions, Annamayya praised the Lord, showed his love for Him, quarreled and argued with Him, confessed to Him, imagined His love with Goddess Padmavati and even surrendered himself to the Lord. Basically his compositions were in local folk tune but later on in the present century, these were given a classic touch by many of the musicians.

Mostly his compositions were based on Aadhyatma (spiritual) and Sringara (love-base). Annamayya sang in many of the temple occasions particularly during the Pavalima seva (bed time) of the Lord "Jo Atchyutaananda Jo Jo Mukunda" which gained tremendous popularly. The other compositions in many such occasions are "Pidikita Talambrala Pellikooturu" which he sang during the Kalyaanotsavam, "Alara Chanchalamaina and the like.

The other compositions of Annamayya that gained much popularity are "Kondalalo Nelakonna Koneti Raayadu", "Podaganti Mayya", "Muddugaare Yashoda", "Annimantramulu Inde", "Vinaro Bhaagyamu Vishnu Kadha" and many more such compositions. And his Sringara composition that gained popularity is "Jagadapu Chanavula Jaajara".

In fact words are not sufficient to describe the greatness of the saint poet as well as about his compositions. Annamayya breathed his last at the feet of the Lord in 1503 and reached the abode of the Lord - Vaikuntham.

Taallapaaka Annamayya - the saint poet of Andhra Pradesh

Life of Sri Taallapaaka Annamaacharya (1408 - 1503)

Taallapaaka Annamayya's compositions

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