The Ardent Wish of the Devotee and The Lord - 2
If someone has dedicated his life to Lord Venkateshwara , and goes into oblivion , unnoticed by TTD for years , will Lord Forget?
No never, even a smallest of act to Lord will be recognized and blessed by Lord Venkateswara when Time comes. Read more in this episode and next to get to know how Lord Venkateshwara starts planning for Sri Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma to whom whole of TTD, people of India owe the massive Annamacharya project .
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 19
Part 2
Unlike Tyagaraja's 'keertanas', Annamayya's 'keertanas' have not been passed on in the 'guru-sishya'(from teacher to disciple) tradition. What came to light after the discovery of the copper plates was that they mentioned only the 'raga' for each 'keertana'. So, we know the 'raga' in which Annamayya sang the 'keertanas' but not their 'swaram'. Every 'keertana' dedicated to Lord Srinivasa highlights the Lord's name at the end.
Annamayya's life, works and message had roused my curiosity and whetted my interest. I felt that it was not enough if the 'keertanas', a treasure house of literary and spiritual values, were edited and published. Each home and every tongue should savour the 'keertanas' sweetness. It was this realization that later made me launch the 'Annamayyacharya project'.
We appointed Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu, a dedicated Telugu scholar working as lecturer in one of the TTD colleges, as Project Special Officer (Director later). Prof Subbaraya Sarma was to look after the preservation of copper plates and the editing and printing of manuscripts.
Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu was to oversee the composing of music , training of artists , involvement of other senior musicians and propagation of the 'keertanas'.
The objectives of the project were identified as follows:
Preserving copper plates with 'keertanas'
Publishing all the 'keertanas'
Composing tunes('swarams) to the 'keertanas' according to their 'raga' with the help of well-known musicians
Getting them sung by famous musicians
Forming musical troupes to propagate them from village to village
Preparing audio and video cassettes
Training of trainers in a wide range of 'bhajana' forms and establishing 'bhajana' troupes in villages.
Inviting 'bhajana' troupes to Tirumala every year for participation in 'metlotsavam / Bhrahmostavams'
Organising competitions among students
Adapting some 'keertanas' to classical dance forms
TTD adopting Tallapaka village
Encouraging research into Annamayya 'sankeertanas'.
We promoted research into Annamayya's works in universities. Among the first batch who earned Ph.Ds with TTD fellowships were Mr.Medasani Mohan and Mr.P.L.N.Prasad.
'Bharat Ratna' Mrs. M. S. Subbulakshmi rendered 'Balaji Pancharatnamala' as part of this project.
A troupe, comprising musicians Kumari Shobha Raju and Balakrishna Prasad and instrumentalists like Mr.Vaidyanathan, started giving Annamayya music concerts, with Mr.Kamisetty Srinivasulu as commentator. Their concerts, based on tunes composed by eminent musicians, received tremendous response. Contrary to the general impression that classical devotional music had lost its appeal with the advent of film music and light music, large numbers of people - young and old - turned up to hear the devotional 'keertanas'.
I had to overcome a delicate problem before the programme could be launched. Carnatic tradition giving more importance to the music part, But I feared that the lay public might not relish it. As a way out, I suggested that the musicians stick to the 'keertanas' - 'raga' and 'swaram' but cut short 'alapana' and render them in a style that appealed to the lay public. The TTD's objective is to inculcate 'bhakti' towards Lord Srinivasa. Music is only a means to communicate the 'bhava'(the philosophical meaning) in an effective way.
TTD's loyalty in this context is not to classical styles. The TTD audio cassettes, now in circulation, carry 'keertanas; rendered in a blend of traditional and light music.We decided that the troupes should necessarily practice some new 'keertanas' every month and they should be reviewed before they were rendered before the audiences and later converted into audio/videos. I held review meetings with the musicians once a month.
It was at one such meeting that Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu broached a subject that triggered a great churning in my mind, leading to a chain of unusual events overnight.
As it would not be possible to get free time during the day, I used to hold such reviews after dinner around 10.30 pm. During such sessions, the artists sang all the new songs they had practiced.
At the end of the review one night, I casually told Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu that I was leaving for Bangalore early next morning. Hesitatingly,Mr Srinivasulu said "Sir, if you don't mind, may I suggest that you call on Sri Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma who is unwell? We owe the massive Annamacharya project to him. Sri Rallapalli is one the few great scholars who toiled for years transcripting the 'keertanas' from the copper plates, unraveling the language of Annamayya's time and bringing to light the values embedded in the 'keertanas'. Other stalwarts like Sri Veturi Prabhakara Sastry and his assistants have received adequate recognition and honors but not Rallapalli".
As he gave Sri Rallapalli's address on a piece of paper, I told him that I would see Sri. Rallapalli, if time permitted.
Once Kamisetty Srinivasulu and the musicians left, I found myself in deep contemplation.
I had never met Sri Rallapalli and, therefore, knew nothing of his erudition. Yet my mind would not rest.
A troupe, comprising musicians Kumari Shobha Raju and Balakrishna Prasad and instrumentalists like Mr.Vaidyanathan, started giving Annamayya music concerts, with Mr.Kamisetty Srinivasulu as commentator. Their concerts, based on tunes composed by eminent musicians, received tremendous response. Contrary to the general impression that classical devotional music had lost its appeal with the advent of film music and light music, large numbers of people - young and old - turned up to hear the devotional 'keertanas'.
I had to overcome a delicate problem before the programme could be launched. Carnatic tradition giving more importance to the music part, But I feared that the lay public might not relish it. As a way out, I suggested that the musicians stick to the 'keertanas' - 'raga' and 'swaram' but cut short 'alapana' and render them in a style that appealed to the lay public. The TTD's objective is to inculcate 'bhakti' towards Lord Srinivasa. Music is only a means to communicate the 'bhava'(the philosophical meaning) in an effective way.
TTD's loyalty in this context is not to classical styles. The TTD audio cassettes, now in circulation, carry 'keertanas; rendered in a blend of traditional and light music.We decided that the troupes should necessarily practice some new 'keertanas' every month and they should be reviewed before they were rendered before the audiences and later converted into audio/videos. I held review meetings with the musicians once a month.
It was at one such meeting that Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu broached a subject that triggered a great churning in my mind, leading to a chain of unusual events overnight.
As it would not be possible to get free time during the day, I used to hold such reviews after dinner around 10.30 pm. During such sessions, the artists sang all the new songs they had practiced.
At the end of the review one night, I casually told Mr.Kamisetti Srinivasulu that I was leaving for Bangalore early next morning. Hesitatingly,Mr Srinivasulu said "Sir, if you don't mind, may I suggest that you call on Sri Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma who is unwell? We owe the massive Annamacharya project to him. Sri Rallapalli is one the few great scholars who toiled for years transcripting the 'keertanas' from the copper plates, unraveling the language of Annamayya's time and bringing to light the values embedded in the 'keertanas'. Other stalwarts like Sri Veturi Prabhakara Sastry and his assistants have received adequate recognition and honors but not Rallapalli".
As he gave Sri Rallapalli's address on a piece of paper, I told him that I would see Sri. Rallapalli, if time permitted.
Once Kamisetty Srinivasulu and the musicians left, I found myself in deep contemplation.
I had never met Sri Rallapalli and, therefore, knew nothing of his erudition. Yet my mind would not rest.
Bronze Statue of sangeeta Kalanidhi Dr Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma
Sri Rallapalli, apparently was one of those who facilitated the massive Annamacharya project, by selflessly and tirelessly bringing to light the literature in praise of Lord Srinivasa and making it intelligible by going it the right form. Yet, he remained unsung and unhonoured in contrast to his colleagues. Had some injustice been done to him?....
Perhaps, I should call on him and decide whether I should do something. Although I tried to sleep, I could not,. Some restlessness overtook me. Even at 1'0' clock in the night, I was seized by this problem. Meeting him the next day might not suffice. Why should I not do something to Sri Rallapalli and that too immediately? What could I do?
Like a man possessed, I called up the Deputy Executive Officer(DEO) over phone, woke him up, and told him, "Look , I am leaving for Bangalore at 6 am tomorrow. By then, I want a certificate appointing Sri Rallapalli Anantkrishna Sarma as TTD 'asthana vidwan' and materials presented to 'asthana vidwans' at the investiture ceremony like the gold dollar (carrying the Lord's image). a shawl, ' laddu prasadam', 'akshintas' etc - delivered at my bungalow. I would like to have all these before I leave".
Perhaps, I should call on him and decide whether I should do something. Although I tried to sleep, I could not,. Some restlessness overtook me. Even at 1'0' clock in the night, I was seized by this problem. Meeting him the next day might not suffice. Why should I not do something to Sri Rallapalli and that too immediately? What could I do?
Like a man possessed, I called up the Deputy Executive Officer(DEO) over phone, woke him up, and told him, "Look , I am leaving for Bangalore at 6 am tomorrow. By then, I want a certificate appointing Sri Rallapalli Anantkrishna Sarma as TTD 'asthana vidwan' and materials presented to 'asthana vidwans' at the investiture ceremony like the gold dollar (carrying the Lord's image). a shawl, ' laddu prasadam', 'akshintas' etc - delivered at my bungalow. I would like to have all these before I leave".
Emani pogaDudumE -
PEmani pogaDudumE ika ninnunu
Amani sobagula alamElmanga ||
teligannula nee tETalE kadavE
velayaga vibhuniki vennelalu
pulakala molakala podulivi gadavE
palumaru buvvula pAnupulu ||
tiyyani nee mOvi tEnele gadavE
viyyapu ramaNuni vindulivi
muyyaka moosina molaka navvu gadE
neyyapu gaprapu neri bAgAlu ||
kaivaSamagu nee kAgilE gadavE
Sri venkaTESwaru siri nagaru
tAvu konna mee tamakamu lE kadE
kAvinchina mee kaLyANamulu ||
This song Annamaiah describes the pleasant relationship between Alamelumanga and Sri Venkateswara.
He adds that their love and sport are divine festival to the world.
Oh Alamelumanga,how to praise your beauty which is so colorful as the Spring season.
Are't your sparkling smiles the moonlight to your consort?
You blush with gentle smiles.
In fact they are like pleasant flower beds.
Your honey-like lips are a feast to your Lord.
Your gentle smiles are sometimes hidden and sometimes visible.
Your red lips have the fragrance of camphored 'Tambulam'.
You captivate him in embrace which is itself a rich palace for Sri Venkateswara.
You both are enamoured in love and your sport is divine festival to the world.
PEmani pogaDudumE ika ninnunu
Amani sobagula alamElmanga ||
teligannula nee tETalE kadavE
velayaga vibhuniki vennelalu
pulakala molakala podulivi gadavE
palumaru buvvula pAnupulu ||
tiyyani nee mOvi tEnele gadavE
viyyapu ramaNuni vindulivi
muyyaka moosina molaka navvu gadE
neyyapu gaprapu neri bAgAlu ||
kaivaSamagu nee kAgilE gadavE
Sri venkaTESwaru siri nagaru
tAvu konna mee tamakamu lE kadE
kAvinchina mee kaLyANamulu ||
This song Annamaiah describes the pleasant relationship between Alamelumanga and Sri Venkateswara.
He adds that their love and sport are divine festival to the world.
Oh Alamelumanga,how to praise your beauty which is so colorful as the Spring season.
Are't your sparkling smiles the moonlight to your consort?
You blush with gentle smiles.
In fact they are like pleasant flower beds.
Your honey-like lips are a feast to your Lord.
Your gentle smiles are sometimes hidden and sometimes visible.
Your red lips have the fragrance of camphored 'Tambulam'.
You captivate him in embrace which is itself a rich palace for Sri Venkateswara.
You both are enamoured in love and your sport is divine festival to the world.
What happened suddenly??? Why are things moving so fast by Lord Venkateshwara?? read in the final part next Saturday
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA