His Jayanti is annually observed on Vaishakh Purnima Tithi.
Annamacharya Charitramu, a poetic biography composed in dvipada (rhyming couplets) by Tallapaka
Chinnanna, grandson of Annamacharya, describes the life and contributions of
the saint. A Nandavarika Brahmin couple, Narayana Suri and Lakkamba, were struck
by a dazzling light from the sword of Lord Venkateshwara while they
prostrating in front of the flagpole, dhvajastambha, on a
visit to the Tirumala Temple. Soon thereafter, on Vaishakha
Purnima in the year 1408, in Tallapaka village in Andhra Pradesh, the
family welcomed a baby boy, Annamayya. The baby was devoted to the Sri
Venkateshwara from birth; he cried incessantly, stopping to no lullaby unless it
was the sweet sound of Vishnu’s name.
Annamayya started composing poetry at the age of sixteen, inspired
by a vision of Goddess Alamelumanga and Bhagavan Venkateshwara while on
pilgrimage to Tirupati. A sage in the Tirumala temple initiated the boy
into the Srivaishnava tradition, then sent him home, where he married
Timmakka and Akkalamma. He then became a disciple of Shathakopamuni, from
whom he learned Vedanta.
A Song by Annamacharya
Muddugare Yashoda
Ragam: Kurinji, Talam: Adi, Language: Telugu
He is the lovely pearl of Yasoda, playing in her front yard.
He is the all-powerful and perfect son of Devaki.
He is the ruby of all gopikas. He is a diamond-like weapon for the
adamant Kamsa. He is the emerald of the three lokas, radiating light.
He is little Krishna staying with us.
He is the coral of beautiful Rukmini. He is the agate that lifted
Govardhan mountain. He is the cat’s eye in conch and discus.
He is the lotus-eyed. He is our savior.
He is the topaz on the heads of Kaliya (serpent). He is sapphire. He is
the divine gem in the ocean of milk. He is Padmanabha moving like a
boy amongst us.
I am constantly amazed by the wealth of life truths and
wisdom in his compositions and the profound philosophy therein. I also like his
sweet language and dialect while describing God.” —Venkat Garikapati, author,
speaker, Annamayya scholar & banker
“Annamayya was such a genius that his writing encapsulated complex
ideas in descriptive phrases, often employing the vernacular to connect with
the common man. This adroit use of language and ideas offers immense
choreographic possibilities to the dancer.” —Dr. Anupama Kylash, Annamacharya
scholar and senior practitioner of Kuchipudi and Vilasini Natyam