Tallapaka Annamacharya
| Tallapaka Annamacharya | |
|---|---|
This statue is at Dwaraka Tirumala
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| Background information | |
| Native name | తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య |
| Also known as | Annamayya pada kavitha pitaamahudu |
| Born |
22 May 1408 Tallapaka,Kadapa Dist. Andhra Pradesh |
| Died | 4 April 1503 (aged 94) Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh |
| Genres | Carnatic music |
| Occupation(s) | Saint, poet, composer, writer |
| Instruments | Tanpura |
Taḷḷapāka Annamācārya (or Annamayya) (Telugu: తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య; 22 May 1408 – 04 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. He is the first known composer in carnatic music. Other composers like Purandaradasa came after him. The musical form of the keertana songs that he composed, which are still popular among Carnatic music concert artists, have strongly influenced the structure of Carnatic music compositions. Annamacharya is remembered for his saintly life, and is honoured as a great devotee of Vishnu by devotees and saintly singers.
He is believed to have been the avatar of Nandaka, the sword of Vishnu. He is widely regarded as the Andhra Pada kavitā Pitāmaha (Godfather of Telugu song-writing).
Annamacharya was born on Vaishakha Shuddha Pournami in the year Sarwadhari (22 May 1408) in Tallapaka, Near Rajampet Mandal, a village in current day Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India. He was born into a brahmin family. His wife, Tikkamma, had written Subhadra Kalyanam, and is considered the first female poet in Telugu literature. Their son, Pedda Tirumalacharya, and grandson, Tallapaka Chinnayya, were also composers and poets. The Tallapaka compositions are considered to have dominated and influenced the structure of Carnatic music compositions. Annamacharya lived for 95 years until Phalguna Bahula (Krishna) Dvadashi (12th day after full moon) in the year Dhundhubhi (April 4, 1503).
Annamacharya is said to have composed as many as 32,000 sankeertanas (songs) on the god Venkateswara, of which only about 12,000 are available today. He is also the author of musical treatise called "Sankirthana lakshanamu".
Annamacharya considered his compositions as floral offerings to Venkateswara. In the poems, he praises the deity, 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 the Adhyaatma (spiritual) and Sringaara (romantic) sankeertanas genres. His songs in the "Sringaara" genre worship Venkateswara by describing the romantic adventures of Venkateshwara and his consort Alamelu, while others describe the Bhakti of his devotees.
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