अन्नामाचार्य
श्री तल्लापाका अन्नामाचार्य (శ్రీ తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) या सीधे अन्नामाचार्य (मई 9, 1408- फरवरी 23, 1503) एक तेलुगु संत कवि और कर्नाटक संगीत रचयिता थे। वे दक्षिण भारत के पहले संगीतज्ञ थे जिन्होंने "संकीर्तन" की रचना की। उन्होंने तिरूमाला सात पर्वतों के देवता भगवान वेंकटेश्वर की स्तुति में अनेक भजनों की रचना की। तेलुगु भाषा भाषी उनको पद-कविता का पितामह मानते हैं।. अन्नामाचार्य के अधिकतर भजन आध्यात्मिकता ("मधुर भक्ति भाव") से भरे हैं।
अन्नामाचार्य का जन्म बैशाख शुद्ध पूर्णिमा (तदनुसार ९ मई १४०९) को भारत के आंध्रप्रदेश राज्य के कड़प्पा जिले के एक गांव में हुआ।
भगवान वेंकटेश्वर की स्तुति में अन्नामाचार्य ने ३२,००० भजनों "संकीर्तनों" की रचना की।, लेकिन इनमें महज १३००० रचनाएं ही इस समय उपलब्ध हैं। उनके भजन दो प्रकार के हैं-आध्यात्मिक और श्रृंगारिक, हालांकि ज्यादातर रचनाएं श्रृंगारिक हैं। उनकी आध्यात्मिक रचनाएं वैष्णव दर्शन पर आधारित है। अन्नामाचार्य रामानुजाचार्य संप्रदाय के थे। उन्होंने अहोबिला मठ में श्री सतागोपा यतींद्र से दीक्षा ग्रहण की।।
He dwells on the subjects of morality, Dharma, righteousness, etc. in his spiritual songs. His erotic songs worship Lord Venkateswara by describing his amorous and romantic adventures, a tradition now known as "Madhura Bhakti". Most of these songs describe the adventures of Venkateswara and Alamel Manga, while others describe the "Bhakti" of Krishna's devotees.
He was one of the first few who opposed the social stigma towards the untouchable castes in his era, with his sankeertanas explaining that the relationship between God and human is the same irrespective of the latters' color, caste and financial status, in beautiful yet powerful usage of words in his song "Brahmam Okkate Parabrahmam Okkate..."
His choice of words gives a mellifluous tone to his songs, charming the listener. His prodigious literary career that produced about 32,000 songs, many of which were greatly acclaimed, has earned him a place among the all-time greats of telugu literature.
His meeting with Purandara Dasa in Tirumala. Once when Purandara Dasa visited Tirumala he heard a great old man singing his composition in front of the Almighty Srinivasa. He at once approached the old man and said that the song was composed for practising music. At the same time, Sri Sri Vyasaraya of the Vyasaraya mutt intervened and introduced the great old man as Talapaka Anammacharya to Purandara Dasa. This is one of the major event in the history of Music where two great souls met each other and paid due respect to each other.Purandara Dasa is revered as the Father of Carnatic Music who formulated the music as it is today. The composition Sri Annamacharya sang is like "Padumanabha Paramapurusha"
An ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati, AP, Annamacharya (also known as Annamayya) successfully composed more than 32,000 "sankeertanas" (Carnatic compositions) in the Carnatic music tradition. Though a great feat in itself, it still falls short of the estimated 475,000 sankeertanas composed by Purandara Dasa(known as the 'Father of Carnatic Music'). While enjoying popularity in his own days, his compositions were forgotten for over three centuries for some inexplicable reason. They were later found engraved on copper plates, 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 the Adhyaatma (spiritual) and Sringaara (romantic) "sankeertanas" genres.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been successfully endeavouring to preserve the rich heritage of his compositions. The sustained efforts of dedicated scholars and musicians during the last thirty years have also helped revive their popularity among the Telugu people.
The sankeertanas engraved on copper plates were found in the Tirumala temple just opposite the Hundi, concealed in a very small room. It is said only 12,000 of the 32,000 sankeertanas were found. No leads have been available to trace the remaining sankeertanas. Some personnel involved in deciphering the plates say that the people of those days could have melted the copper plates for personal use.
The telugu film "Annamaya" was based on his story. It was released on 13th May 1997. It starred Nagarjuna Akkineni as Annamacharya. The cast included RamyaKrishna, Suman, Mohanbabu. It proved to be a massive hit-probably an epoch making movie in Telugu industry. The film was directed by ace veteran K.Raghavendra Rao who is considered as one of the most influential directors of the Telugu Film Industry. The tunes composed by M.M. Keeravani topped the charts for a long period. The audio of this film has had the greatest sales to date in Telugu Film industry. This film also received many Awards including a national award. It was produced under VMC banner. The film undoubtably left an indelible mark in the audience. His sankirtanas are very popular amongst Carnatic singers and connoisseurs, especially in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The programme, "LakshaGala Sankirthanarchana", some 160,000 people sang seven Annamayya keertanas in Hyderabad, creating a new Guinness record on May 10, 2009.
अन्नामाचार्य का देहान्त ९५ वर्ष की उम्र में फाल्गुन बहुला द्वादशी (23 फरवरी, 1503) को हुआ। उनकी पत्नी तिम्मक्का भी कवयित्री थीं जिन्होने 'सुभद्रा कल्याणम्' नामक ग्रन्थ की रचना की। उन्हें तेलुगु की प्रथम कवयित्री माना जाता है। अन्नामाचार्य के पुत्र पेद्दा तिरुमलाचार्य भी प्रसिद्ध वग्गेयकारी (कवि) थे।
अन्नामाचार्य द्वारा रचित कुछ प्रसिद्ध भजन नीचे दिये गये हैं-
पिछले २५ वर्षों में गरिमेल्ल बालकृष्ण प्रसाद ने अन्नामय्या के गीतों को लोकप्रिय बनाने में महती भूमिका निभायी है। इसी प्रकार भारतरत्न एम एस सुभलक्ष्मी ने १९८० में बालाजी पंचरत्नमाला के माध्यम से उनके गीतों को लोकप्रिय बनाया।