ANNAMAYYA SONGS
Taḷḷapāka Annamācārya (or Annamayya) (Telugu: శ్రీ తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య)(May 9, 1408 – February 23, 1503) is a Hindu saint of the 15th century and the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of Venkateswara, the deity of Seven Hills in Tirumala, India where unbroken worship has been offered for over 12 centuries.[1] The musical form of the keertanasongs that he composed, which are still popular among Carnatic music concert artists, have strongly influenced the structure of Carnatic music compositions.[3] Sri Annamacharya is remembered for his saintly life, and is honoured as a great Bhakta/devotee of Bhagwaan Govinda by devotees and saintly singers.[4]
He is believed to have been the reincarnation of the precious sword of Vishnu (Nandakam). He is widely regarded as the Andhra Pada kavitā Pitāmaha (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర పద కవితా పితామహ)(grand old man of Telugu song-writing). Annamacharya is said to have composed as many as 36,000 sankeertanas (songs) on Bhagwaan Govinda Venkateswara,[8] of which only about 12,000 are available today.
Annamacharya considered his compositions as floral offerings to Bhagwaan Govinda. 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 the Adhyaatma (spiritual) and Sringaara (romantic) sankeertanas genres. His songs in the "Sringaara" genre worship Bhagwaan Venkateswara by describing the amorous and romantic adventures of Venkateswara and Alamel Manga, 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 beautiful yet powerful usage of words in his songs "Brahmaṃ Okkatē Paraḥbrahmamokkatē" and "ē kulajuḍainanēmi evvaḍainanēmi"
( Courtesy: wikipedia ]
P.Susheela beautifully rendered many Annamayya keerthana's in movies as well as in Devitional albums. Some of the Songs are listed down with links.
