May 1, 2026
Vaisakha Suddha Poornima (as per lunar calendar)
Today marks the 618th Jayanti Day of the great saint and poet-composer (vaggeyakara), “padakavita pitamaha”, Sree Tallapaka Annamacharya.
It is estimated that he composed about 32,000 sankeertanams in praise of his favourite God (ishtadaivam), Sree Venkateswara swamy.
More than the details of his birth, life and demise, I feel it is important for us all to know how to live a completely devoted life, like Sree annamacharyulavaru.
As Sree Purandara Dasa conveys in one of his geetams, “keraya neeranu kerege jalli” meaning as you offer the water from the lake back to it, so also one needs to offer oneself to the divine without losing divinity. Sree Annamacharya’s life is exactly depictive of this fact.
He is believed to be the incarnation of the divine sword (nandakam) of Sree Venkateswara. He lived a very normal life, got married, had children, never craved for more than what he had, never forgot God throughout his life, was devotional and dedicated his whole life in the service of God and had a glorious exit too. At the age of 95, he attained salvation.
Sree annamayya’s compositions showcase all four Ashrams of a human’s life as per sanatana dharma. kishora, youvvana, vanaprastha and sanyasa, are all well brought out through his compositions. It was not a preplanned thematic way of composing. But, as and when he entered that stage, his thoughts took the form of compositions. One can feel the transformation of his life from one stage to another through his compositions.
These songs emit the fragrance of varied emotions according to the ashrama, viz., playful childhood stage, romantic young age (Srungara rasa), devotional middle-age (bhakti rasa) and detached, philosophical old age (vairagya).
Each composition is a master piece, one can say. And no doubt there is no south Indian family, rural, urban or abroad, which is not acquainted with annamayya sankeertanams.
“Vedukondama”, “chalada hari nama soukhyamrutam tamaku” , “vinaro bhagyamu vishnu katha”, “ ekkadi manusha janmam”, “antayu neeve hari pundareekaksha”, “antaryami alasiti”, … and the list goes on. Each one is a pure pearl in itself, worth offering as a divine flower to the lord.
Today there are many devotees, singers, musicians who are striving consistently to bring more sankeertanams back to people.
It is worth mentioning and commending our beloved guruvugaru Sree Garimella Balakrishna Prasad garu for his dedication and hardwork, in tuning and notating the rare and unheard compositions of Sree annamacharya.
I sincerely thank modern technology in saving the great work, in audio and video formats and making available to one and all. As a token of respect, let us set aside enough time for spiritual wellbeing. Let us happily hum or sing along these great compositions and pay our tribute to the divine soul of Sree annamacharya.
Sree annamayya laid a golden path to salvation, leading to the union with the divine.
Let’s follow “Sree annamayya patham”, the path he trod,
Let’s sing “ Sree annamayya padam” the song he rendered.
Om Namo Venkatesaya!!!