The Ardent Wish of the Devotee and The Lord
The room was crowded; but the silence was eerie.
In front of us was an erudite scholar in his eighties reclining against the wall on a cot. Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma's face was radiant.
An ardent devotee of Lord Srinivasa, he was overwhelmed as he fondly looked at the Tirumala 'prasadam' and the appointment order in his hands. Tears of devotion were streaming down his cheeks. With great difficulty, he whispered in a quivering voice, "Oh Lord, have you at last chosen to shower your blessings on me?"
Everyone in the room was deeply touched by what seemed to be a dialogue between the noble soul and the Almighty. It took me 16 hours to understand why it happened like that then.
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In front of us was an erudite scholar in his eighties reclining against the wall on a cot. Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma's face was radiant.
An ardent devotee of Lord Srinivasa, he was overwhelmed as he fondly looked at the Tirumala 'prasadam' and the appointment order in his hands. Tears of devotion were streaming down his cheeks. With great difficulty, he whispered in a quivering voice, "Oh Lord, have you at last chosen to shower your blessings on me?"
Everyone in the room was deeply touched by what seemed to be a dialogue between the noble soul and the Almighty. It took me 16 hours to understand why it happened like that then.
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Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma
Episode 18
Part 1
The famous poet composer, Tallapaka Annamacharya, a great devotee of Lord Srinivasa, is a very familiar name to most of the Andhras , and to music lovers and devotees all over India. During his lifetime, Annamacharya worshiped the Lord daily with garlands of devotional verses. He was said to have written more than 30000 devotional songs or 'keetanas' about Lord Srinivasa.
The rulers of those times, realizing the need to propagate 'Bhakti' and to preserve the great literary and spiritual treasure of the 'Keertanas' for posterity, got them inscribed on copper plates. Specially trained missionaries(mendicants) popularized those 'keertanas' in villages.
That is why every Telugu-speaking mother to even to this day lisps the lullaby, "Jo Achyutananda, jo jo Mukunda", when she rocks her child to sleep. The fall of Hindu kingdoms and the ascent of the British led to a gradual decline in the popularity of the 'keertanas'. Although a few songs remained popular, but the name of Annamacharya started to fade in people's memories.
Part 1
The famous poet composer, Tallapaka Annamacharya, a great devotee of Lord Srinivasa, is a very familiar name to most of the Andhras , and to music lovers and devotees all over India. During his lifetime, Annamacharya worshiped the Lord daily with garlands of devotional verses. He was said to have written more than 30000 devotional songs or 'keetanas' about Lord Srinivasa.
The rulers of those times, realizing the need to propagate 'Bhakti' and to preserve the great literary and spiritual treasure of the 'Keertanas' for posterity, got them inscribed on copper plates. Specially trained missionaries(mendicants) popularized those 'keertanas' in villages.
That is why every Telugu-speaking mother to even to this day lisps the lullaby, "Jo Achyutananda, jo jo Mukunda", when she rocks her child to sleep. The fall of Hindu kingdoms and the ascent of the British led to a gradual decline in the popularity of the 'keertanas'. Although a few songs remained popular, but the name of Annamacharya started to fade in people's memories.
The copper plates, deposited in a secret chamber in a wall of the Tirumala Srinivasa temple, were discovered in the early decades of the 20th century when 'mahants' administered the temple. It is not known as to who put those up there and when. It is said that all the 30000 'sankerteenas' were found inscribed on copper plates. But callousness had resulted in most of the copper plates getting lost.
It is alleged that the authorities concerned , without realizing the value of the treasure, had melted some of the copper plates for the copper value - eternally losing the devout outpourings of the great saint - poet for ever.
Only 11000 'keertanas' are available now. Sri Veturi Prabhakara Sastry and Sri Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma were said to have played a leading role in helping the TTD administration codify, compile and edit these 'sankeertanas'. For some 'sankeertanas', they also prepared musical notations.
Mr. Rajagopala Raju, who preceded me as Executive Officer, and Mr.Chelikani Anna Rao, Chairman TTD , took up Annamayya 'keertanas' publication. (Mr.Anna Rao served the TTD in various capacities for about three decades including as Executive Officer). They entrusted the job of editing and printing to Mr.Rama Subba Sarma, a scholar and teacher in TTD oriental college. Mr.Rajagopala Raju extended financial assistance to TTD Music College students to practice and specialize in Annamayya 'keertanas' under the guidance of the then Music College Principal and a great Carnatic vocalist , Mr.Nedunuri Krishna Murthy.
The now famous musicians, Mrs.Sobha Raju and Mr.Balakrishna Prasad, were among those trained by Mr.Nedunuri Krishna Murthy. The credit for preserving and propagating Annamayya 'keertanas' goes to all of them.
It is alleged that the authorities concerned , without realizing the value of the treasure, had melted some of the copper plates for the copper value - eternally losing the devout outpourings of the great saint - poet for ever.
Only 11000 'keertanas' are available now. Sri Veturi Prabhakara Sastry and Sri Rallapalli Anantakrishna Sarma were said to have played a leading role in helping the TTD administration codify, compile and edit these 'sankeertanas'. For some 'sankeertanas', they also prepared musical notations.
Mr. Rajagopala Raju, who preceded me as Executive Officer, and Mr.Chelikani Anna Rao, Chairman TTD , took up Annamayya 'keertanas' publication. (Mr.Anna Rao served the TTD in various capacities for about three decades including as Executive Officer). They entrusted the job of editing and printing to Mr.Rama Subba Sarma, a scholar and teacher in TTD oriental college. Mr.Rajagopala Raju extended financial assistance to TTD Music College students to practice and specialize in Annamayya 'keertanas' under the guidance of the then Music College Principal and a great Carnatic vocalist , Mr.Nedunuri Krishna Murthy.
The now famous musicians, Mrs.Sobha Raju and Mr.Balakrishna Prasad, were among those trained by Mr.Nedunuri Krishna Murthy. The credit for preserving and propagating Annamayya 'keertanas' goes to all of them.
MS Subbalakshmi amma releasing Sri Balakrishna Prasad's Anjaneya Kritimani maala
Two months after I took over as TTD Executive Officer in 1978, I sent for Mr.Rama Subba Sarma and inquired of his activities. He told me that the transcription of all the 'keertanas' from the copper plates had been completed . The regular Telugu manuscripts were ready, but steps to preserve the copper plates and edit manuscripts and print them, were yet to be taken up.Also unfinished was the task of interpreting a large number of words in the 'keertanas' warranted by the nuances the words had undergone over a few centuries. It was a gigantic task that could take decades of dedicated work.
Interspersed as they are with Sanskrit and Telugu, Annamayya's 'Keertanas' appeal to both scholars and lay people. The 'keertanas' cover a broad range of classical Carnatic music to folk songs. They are sensual as well as devotional. They lend themselves to be sung as 'bhajans' as also simple lullabies. The underlying values are progressive.
Interspersed as they are with Sanskrit and Telugu, Annamayya's 'Keertanas' appeal to both scholars and lay people. The 'keertanas' cover a broad range of classical Carnatic music to folk songs. They are sensual as well as devotional. They lend themselves to be sung as 'bhajans' as also simple lullabies. The underlying values are progressive.
Lord Krishna enjoying Annamayya Keertanas
Jo achyutAnanda jo jo mukunda
rave paramAnanda rama govinda
nandunintanu cheri nayamu meeranga
chandravadanalu neeku seva cheyangaandamuga vari indla aaduchundanga
mandalaku donga maa muddu ranga
Your play at Nandas house is mesmerizing,
the ladies of the house with full moon faces were at your service looking after your comforts.
You played in their houses with exuberance,
your lovely depictive acts made some call you a thief, our lovely effulgent krishna!
rave paramAnanda rama govinda
nandunintanu cheri nayamu meeranga
chandravadanalu neeku seva cheyangaandamuga vari indla aaduchundanga
mandalaku donga maa muddu ranga
Your play at Nandas house is mesmerizing,
the ladies of the house with full moon faces were at your service looking after your comforts.
You played in their houses with exuberance,
your lovely depictive acts made some call you a thief, our lovely effulgent krishna!
Interestingly , centuries ago, Annamayya had underlined the equality of all human beings by singing that after death "the place occupied by a revered Brahmin is the same as that of an untouchable". That is why his songs have an enduring quality and appeal to all sections of people. The objective of all the 'keertanas' is to depict Lord's 'leelas and share with all of us the sweet thrill of divine worship and absolute surrender to the Lord.Research into Annamayya's works continue to this day and will continue for years to come because the 'bhakti' philosophy he propounds is known for its depth and breadth.
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA