Annamayya’s rare kirtanas released on 510th Vardhanti

Governor ESL Narasimhan and his wife Vimala having a darshan at the Padmavathi temple in Tiruchanur near Tirupati on Sunday. | Express Photo

Two compact discs containing rare kirtanas of saint-poet in praise of Lord Venkateswara were released by governor ESL Narasimhan here on Sunday.

Apart from the CDs, Chinnanna Sankirtana Vibhuti and Annamayya Sundara Sri Madhurima, the governor also released a book titled, Venkatachala Mahatmyam.

The occasion was the 510th vardhanti of the 15 century vaggeyakara who lived from 1408 to 1503. The programme was held at the Narayanagiri Gardens.

In his spiritual address, Ahobila Mutt’s 45th pontiff Sri Sri Sri Srinivasa Sathagopa Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikan Swamy said Annamacharya had dedicated his entire life to the service of God by singing in eulogy of the Lord and hailed the TTD for conducting the birth and death anniversaries of the renowned saint-poet every year.

About 2,500 bhajan mandalis from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu took part in the programme on Sunday.

“We will organise week-long programmes at Tirupati, Tiruchanur and Tallapaka,” Annamacharya Project director Medasani Mohan said.

TTD executive officer LV Subrahmanyam said the saint-poet wrote over 32,000 rare songs in his life span of 95 years.

“We want to popularise his sankirtanas further by composing new musical notes and training children in every district of the state in the rendering of his kirtanas.

Children who master singing the sankiranas will be provided an opportunity to perform on the Nada Nirajanam platform on special festive occasions.

Today, the popularity of Annamayya songs has transcended the state’s borders and people of other states are asking the TTD for translated kirtanas of Annamayya,” he added.

In the morning, around 8 am, the processional deities of Malayappa Swamy and His two Consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi flanking Him, were brought to the venue in a grand procession.

Junior pontiff Sri Sri Sriranga Sathagopa Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikan Swamy, renowned violinist TN Krishnan, joint executive officers KS Srinivasa Raju and P Venkatarami Reddy, deputy executive officer (temple) Chinnamgari Ramana, chief vigilance and security officer GVG Ashok Kumar and Peishkar Rama Rao were also present.

Source : The New Indian Express