‘Gramotsavam’ held on Annamacharya vardhanti

The portrait of saint-composer Tallapaka Annamacharya was taken round in “Gramotsavam” procession amidst chanting of Govindanamam and rendering of Anamacharya keertanas on his 511th vardhanti in Tallapaka, his native village, under the aegis of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and Annamacharya Project, on Thursday.

Twenty artistes of Annamacharya Project recited Saptagiri Sankeertana in Annamacharya dhayana mandiram. TTD Deputy EO Sarada, coordinator Savithri and elders of Tallapaka and villagers participated. Artistes also rendered keertanas near the 108-foot Annamacharya statue near Tallapaka village.

Spiritual address

Tirumala Staff Reporter adds: Religious ecstasy marked the 511th Vardhanti celebrations of the saint-poet Annamacharya on Thursday at the hill town of Lord Venkateswara.

In his spiritual address at the sprawling Narayanagiri gardens where the Vardhanti mahotsavams were organised in a grand manner, the 46th pontiff of Ahobila Mutt Sri Satakopa Ranganatha Yateendra Mahadesikan mesmerised the gathering quoting several references from the holy texts, particularly from the Bhasvishottara puranam and dealt at length regarding the association between the Ahobila Narasimha swamy and the Tirumala temple besides complimenting the TTD for taking-up various socio-religious activities.

Speaking on the occasion, TTD’s Executive Officer M.G. Gopal said that it was the saint poet Annamacharya who had raised his voice against the social injustice and inequalities some six centuries ago and laboured for the eradication of the evils plaguing the society through his songs.

Ever since its inception in the year 1978 the Annamacharya project has taken up several initiatives to promote, propagate and preserve the great works of the saint-poet, Mr. Gopal said.

Later, the TTD’s chairman K. Bapiraju and Mr. Gopal jointly released a book ‘Humble offerings’ comprising 108 sankeertanas of saint poet translated in English by an NRI Gollamudi Hymavathi.

Earlier in the day, the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy along with his two divine consorts were taken out in a grand procession.