Annamacharya: Icons of Bharatavarsha

Introduction

Annamacharya, also popularly known as Annamayya, was one of the earliest known Indian musicians who composed songs in praise of Lord Venkateswara. He composed  devotional songs called Sankeerthanas which have strongly influenced Carnatic music. He is regarded as the forerunner of the great composers including Purandaradasa and Thyagarajar. For his soulful Telugu compositions, he is regarded as Andhra Pada kavita Pitamaha (Grandfather of Telugu song compositions).

Birth

Annamacharya is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Venkateswara’s sword, Nandaka. He was born in the year Sarwadhari (22 May 1408) in Thallapaka, in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Once, the couple Narayana Suri and Lakkamamba visited Tirumala Temple. While they were prostrating a dazzling light from the sword of Lord Venkateswara struck them. Eventually a boy was born to them whom they named Annamayya. At the tender age of eight, he had a vision of Goddess Alamelumanga the divine consort of Lord Shrinivasa. Annamayya immediately set out for Thirumala. He  then became a Vaishnavite after his Guru Ghana Vishnu initiated him into the fold. 

After staying  at Tirumala until the age of 16, he returned to Thallapaka and married Timmakka and Akkalamma. He continued to tour the whole of South India worshipping various Vishnu temples. Inspired by this guru, Sri Satakopa Yati of Ahobilam, he took to compos­ing songs on Lord Venkateswara and Alamelumanga. Most of his compositions are on the Lord of Thirumala, though he composed a few songs on other deities as well. 

His Works

During his long and fruitful life, Annamacharya composed over 32,000 Sankirtanas. He also composed twelve shatakas in praise of various Gods. He also created prabandhas, wrote the Venkatachala Mahatmiya and composed the Ramayana in Telugu in dwipada metre. Sangeeta Lakshanam, a treatise on music in Sanskrit is another work of Annamacharya.  

Purandaradasa, who was 70 years younger to Annamacharya, heard about the glory of Annamacharya and visited him. Purandaradasa called him the incarnation of Lord Venkateswara and equated his Sankeertanas to sacred hymns.

Retrieval of his works

Though his works were popular during his lifetime, they were forgotten for several centuries due to unknown reasons. In 1922, by divine intervention, they were found as copper plate engravings, hidden in a very small room inside the Tirumala temple near the Hundi. A total of 2500 copper plates comprising 14,000 sankeertanas and a few other works were retrieved. Due to the efforts of Tirumala Tirupati Dev­asthanam and musicians like Dr. Balamuralikrishna, Neduneri Krishnamoorthi and M.S.Subbulakshmi these songs were recomposed in modern Ragas. They were  re-introduced to the public  much to the delight of musicians and enthusiasts.

His Legacy

His prodigious literary career earned Annamacharya a prominent place among the all-time greats of Carnatic and Telugu literature. Apart from being a saint and musician, he was also a social reformer. He opposed social evils such as caste system and untouchability. In his songs such as “Brahmaṃ Okkate ” and “e kulajuḍainanemi” he explained that the relationship between God and human is the same irrespective of the latter’s colour, caste and financial status.

Annamacharya is also credited with introduction of the ceremonial bathing of Lord Venkateswara every Friday, a practice that continues till date. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have consecrated Annamacharya in two places, one in the Annamacharya Mandiram located in the Annamacharya Project Office premises at Tirupati and the other one in Annamacharya temple at Thallapaka, the birth place of Annamacharya.

Annamacharya and Thyagaraja are classic examples of how divine music can lead to unending devotion towards the Lord. Though such saints lived several centuries ago, their songs continue to inspire everyone towards the path of Bhakthi. 

Here is an amazing composition by Annamacharya sung beautifully by two kids that will mesmerise any listener: