The Great Annamayya

The above video is Telugu Association of North America (TANA) annual celebrations at Atlanta, Georgia on September 03, 2006.

Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya (1408 - 1503) is an Indian poet and musician widely regarded as the Telugu pada kavita pitaamaha (Grand old man of simple poetry). An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati, AP. Annamacharya(also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 32,000 krithis (a Carnatic composition) in the carnatic music tradition, a feat which is near impossible to replicate! They were found engraved on copper plates which were hidden for centuries inside the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

Annamacharya considered his compositions as floral offerings to God. 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 Adhyaatama and Sringaara samkirtanaas.

Reunion With my IIT M Friends @ The Great Smoky Mountains

It is said that you make friends for lifetime during your college days...TRUE. There was something that brought us together 5 years back and that something was so perfect that we became a FAMILY, sharing the best and the worst, sharing common passions, breeding success to one another, still having the same energy and enthusiasm, caring and concern for each in the group.

This was the most Vibrant group back during 2002-2004 at IIT Madras. Living and sleeping together and making noise all over. Winning elections and forming the Core for Saarang 2004, we SUCCEEDED in bringing to life our 'DREAM' Saarang, a proud accomplishment indeed.

Post IIT M we all went on our own ways seeking a future that we each dreamt. More than two years passed hence, today we all have again succeeded in building a career for ourselves and have begun our journey towards our future.

And Few days back.......this group again met....to celebrate, to have fun and relive the best times we once shared.

A month back, my Orkut Profile read this:
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The cult gumbal of IIT M 2004 - 8 members 'Maadigrass' group are having a reunion @ the Beautiful Smoky Mountains ( http://www.nps.gov/grsm/), Tennessee after 2 1/2 years.

The Junta:

Vishnu Praveen aka 'babai' aka vp
Kalyan aka pichuck
Sarath aka sherry
Keerthi aka chantigaadu aka bambu aka kee
Anil aka piss
Siddarth aka siddu aka siddarth roy
Vinay aka Vinni
Meghamsh aka Megs
Bhargav aka Bhar

The Location:
The Great Smoky Mountains - http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

The Time:
Nov 3 - 5th!

"We shall miss Jana, Reddy, Chakka, Nirma and Pitter"
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and the photo Album below tells you how much fun we had together again...we might not be those IITM students anymore...but we relived those days again :)

Special thanks to all my friends who made it to this trip and especially to Pichuck, who came here inspite of having an interview on Monday.

Love you all

Sarath a.k.a Sherry

Smoky Mountain Trip With IIT M Friends