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.