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On the occasion of Telugu Hindu saint, musician #Annamacharya's 612nd birth anniversary(jayanti) according to Gregorian calendar.

Regarded as "Andhra Pada Kavita Pitamaha" or "Telugu Pada Kavitha Pitamaha;" his compositions are often heard in #CarnaticMusic.

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#TallapakaAnnamacharya known as #Annamacharya/ #Annamayya was born on 22nd May, 1408 on "Vaisakha Shuddha Pournami" day according to Hindu calendar(it's on 7th May this year).

in a Nandavarika sect of Smartha Brahmins family in Tallapaka village, Rajampet, Kadapa district.

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His parents are Narayana Suri and Lakkamamba.

#Annamacharya was a great devotee of "Kali Yuga Daivam"(The God of Kali Yuga) #Tirupati's Lord Venkateswara Swamy(a form of Lord Vishnu.

#Annamayya was said to be the incarnation of #LordVenkateswaraSwamy's sword "Nandaka."

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#Annamacharya was said to be first Vaggeyakara(a person who can write, sing and also compose a song) in Telugu language.

#Annamayya composed nearly 32000 songs of which around 12000 were available today. They were engraved on copper plates & were lost for many years.

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#Annamacharya's compositions were found again in mid 19th century in a hidden room inside #Tirupati temple.

His compositions were revived by TTD(Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) by forming a committee in 1950's & Carnatic Musician #MangalampalliBalamuralikrishna set tune

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to nearly 800 songs written by #Annamacharya.

#GarimellaBalakrishnaPrasad set tune to 600 songs.

#MSSubbulakshmi came up with an album "Balaji Pancharatna Mala" in 1979.

Singer #ShobhaRaju founded "Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini" in 1983 for Annamayya's compositions.

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She released her first album "Venkateswara Geeta Malika."

She was initially chosen to propagate #Annamacharya's compositions in 1978.

For her contributions and service, she received awards like "Abhinava Annamayya," "Annamayya Pada Kokila."

Pic: @DrShobhaRaju.

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A Telugu movie #Annamayya based on #Annamacharya's life was released in 1997.

@iamnagarjuna played the lead role. YouTube link of this movie:

Devotional songs in it are very popular & @mmkeeravaani got National Film Award for Best Music Direction.

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All video songs from #Annamayya movie:

Some songs/albums on #Annamacharya's compositions:

"Annamayya Madhura Gaanam" album by Garimella Balakrishna Prasad:
"Jagadapu Chanavula," "Adivo Alladivo" etc songs are in this album.

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"Muddhu Gare Yashoda" by #GarimellaBalakrishnaPrasad:

"Annamayya Shringaradhara" album by Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, V Sarala Rao, Swapna Sundari:
"Ele Ele Maradhala," "Chaligali Vedela" etc songs are in this album.

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#Annamacharya's keerthanas by MS Subbulakshmi:

"Deva Devam Bhaje:"

"Bhavamu Lona:"



"Bhavayami Gopalabalam:"

"Nanati Batuku:"

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"Annamayya Pada Shobha" by Shobha Raju:

Annamayya Geetha Madhuri


"Kondalalo Nelakonna:"

"Adivo Alladivo:"

"Brahma Kadigina:"

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#Annamacharya stood for equality and against #Casteism especially in his compositions like

"Brahmam Okkate" by @kuldeepmpai, #Sooryagayathri & @RahulVellal:
These lyrics in the pics show.

"E kulajudainanemi" by #KJYesudas:

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#Annamacharya wrote a musical treatise "Sankirthana Lakshanamu."

His songs have Adhyaatma(Spiritual) & Sringaara(Romantic) classifications.

Sringaara to describe the relationship of Venkateswara & Goddess Padmavathi.

#Annamacharya works.
Source: https://annamayya.org/annamayya/sankeerthanas/#content-content-inner

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#Annamacharya was married to two women Timmakka & Akkalamma.

#TallapakaTirumalamma also known as #Timmakka wrote "Subhadra Kalyanam."

Tallapaka Tirumalamma is one of the earliest female poets in Telugu literature along with #AtukuriMolla(the author of #MollaRamayanam).

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It is said that #Annamacharya used to write his compositions on Palm leaves(Tala patralu) & his son(his wife Akkalamma's son); #PeddaTirumalacharya later engraved them on copper plates.

Pedda Tirumalacharya's son Chinna Tirumalacharya wrote #Annamayya's biography.

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#ChinnaTirumalacharya's work gives a lot of info about Annamayya's life.

#Annamacharya started the tradition of celestial bath(abhishekam) to Venkateswara Swamy that happens on every Friday.

#Annamayya was a court poet of Vijayanagara emperor #SaluvaNarasimhaDevaRaya.

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#Annamacharya died on 4th April, 1503 at the age of 94.

Picture: On the occasion of #Annamayya's 600th birth anniversary(May 22nd, 2008); a 108 feet statue of Annamacharya was unveiled in Rajampet town, Kadapa district by the then Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

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Pictures:

#Annamacharya statue at Tank bund, Hyderabad.

His statue at Dwaraka Tirumala(known as Chinna Tirupati), West Godavari district.

His statue at Sarada river park, Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam district.

Art on #Annamayya by Telugu film director & cartoonist #Bapu.

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Thus #Annamayya's contribution to Bhakti movement, Carnatic music, Telugu literature & Vaishnavism is magnificent.

He was rightfully called as "Telugu Pada Kavitha Pitamaha"(The Grandfather of Telugu song-writing).

Pic: Indian Stamp issued in 2004 on #Annamacharya.

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