- Tallapaka Annamacharya, also commonly known as Annamayya, was a musician, composer and musician.
- A Hindu saint. He is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtan. His devotional sankirtanas were in praise of Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu.
- The musical form of kirtan songs composed by him, which is popular even today among Carnatic music concert artists, has strongly influenced the structure of Carnatic musical compositions.
Annamacharya Biography In English
Birth Details –
Place– Andhra Pradesh, India
Date of Birth – 22 May 1408
Marital Status: Married
Nationality – Indian
Family –
Wife – Timmakka
Son- Pedda Tirumalacharya
Early Life –
- Tallapaka Annamacharya was born on Vaishakha Shuddha Purnima year Sarvadhari near Tallapaka, Rajampet mandal, a village in the present day Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
- Even though his parents belonged to the Nandavarika Brahmin community of the Smarta tradition, he accepted initiation into Vaishnavism and became a Vaishnava of the Ramanuja Sri Vaishnava sect initiated by the Jiyar of Ahobila Math.
- His wife, Timmakka, wrote Subhadra Kalyanam, and is considered the first woman poet in Telugu literature.
- His son, Pedda Tirumalacharya and grandson, Tallapaka Chinnayya were also composers and poets. It is believed that Tallapaka compositions dominated and influenced the structure of Carnatic musical compositions.
Career –
- Annamayya is said to have written about 32,000 sankirtanas (songs) in praise of Venkateswara, of which only 12,000 are available today. He is also the author of a musical treatise titled “Samakirtan Lakshanamu”.
- His songs are classified into Adhyatma (Dhyatmic) and Shringaar (Romantic) Sankirtan styles. His songs in the “Sringara” genre worship Venkateswara by describing the romantic adventures of Venkateswara and his wife Alamelu, while others describe the devotion of his devotees.
- In his later kirtans, he supported themes like morality, religion and religiosity. He was one of the first few people in his era to oppose the social stigma towards the untouchable castes, explaining in his sankirtan that the relationship between God and humans is equal irrespective of colour, caste and financial status.
Famous Compositions-
- Adivō Alladivō Śriharivāsamu
- Alara Cañcalamaina Ātmalanduṇḍa
- Alarulu Kuriayaga Āḍinadē
- Anni mantramulu nindē yāvahiñcenu
- Antaryāmi Alaśiti Solaśiti
- Bhāvayāmi Gōpālabālaṁ Manassēvitaṁ
- Bhāvamulōna Bāhyamunandunu
- Brahma Kaḍigina Pādamu
- Mukhāri Adi Rallapalli Ananta
- Cakkani Talliki Chāngu Bhaḷā
- Cāladā Harināma Saukhyāmr̥tamu
- Cēri Yaśōdaku Śiśuvitaḍu
- Candamāma Rāve Jābilli Rāve
- Dēvadēvaṁ Bhajē Divya Prabhāvaṁ
- GovindāŚrita Gōkula Br̥ndā
- Harināmame Kaḍu Ānandakaramu
- Indariki Abhayammuliccu Cēyi
- Itarulaku Ninneruga Taramā
- Jō Acyutānanda Jō Jō Mukundā
- Kanṭi Śukravāramu Gaḍiyalēḍiṁṭa
- Koṁḍalalō Nelakonna Kōnēṭi Rāyaḍu Vāḍu
- Kulukaka Naḍavārō Kommalārā
- Mēdini Jīvula Gāva Mēlukōvayyā
- Muddugārē Yaśōda Muṅgiṭa Mutayamu vīḍu
- Mūsina Mutyālakēlē Moragulu
- Nallani Mēni Nagavu Chūpulavāḍu
Other Information –
- Date of death-4 April 1503
- Place – Tirumala, Vijayanagara
Question Related to Annamacharya
What is the birth place and date of birth of Annamacharya?
Annamacharya was born on 22 May 1408 in Andhra Pradesh, India.
What was the name of Annamacharya’s wife?
Annamacharya’s wife’s name was Timmakka.
What was the name of Annamacharya’s son?
Annamacharya’s son’s name was Pedda Tirumalacharya.
When and where did Annamacharya die?
Annamacharya died on 4 April 1503 in Tirumala, Vijayanagara.
