JANARANJANI RADIO PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR 25 AUGUST 2018
The Hidden Vaggeyakaras – Fifth Part:
Till now, we have learnt about several vaggeyakaras over the first four parts. Next week Janaranjani program will be the fifth part of hidden vaggeyakaras, in a series of programs planned. In this Janaranjani radio program, we will learn about two great vaggeyakaras, namely Mahakavi Sri Dasu Sreeramulu and Sri Allur Venkatadri Swamy.
NamaSankeerthanam is the greatest and best way to attain the Lotus Feet of Lord Sriman Narayana. According to that Bharat has a glorious record of several saints and scholars were realized and relished the supreme through devotion. Immortal songs of musical saints like Jayadev, Kabirdas, Meera, Namadev, Tukkaram, Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadass, Thyagaraja Swamy, Mahakavi Sri Dasu Sreeramulu, Sriman AllurVenkatadri swami remain as sources of solace and bliss, over centuries.
Mahakavi Sree Dasu Sreeramulu: Dasu Sreeramulu (1846-1908)
A versatile poet and writer of more than thirty three books on different subjects, Dasu Sreeramulu was born in Andhrapradesh. Even as a teenager, he wrote ‘Satrajiti Vilasamu – yakshaganam’, and also performed ‘Avadhanams’ in both Telugu and Samskrit.
Though a lawyer by profession, he evinced great interest in literature, music, and dance. Eminent Kuchipudi artists of his time, Vempati Kodanda Ramaiah and Tadepalli Vissayya, used to take scholarly advice from Sreeramulu. By 1887, he composed many krutis, padams, and javalis, particularly on Venugopalaswamy of Totla Valluru. Devadasis like Chadalavada Pitchai, Rajaratnam, and Pinapala Bhavani were helped by him with suitable lyrics and compositions. He also founded a famous music school at Eluru. He is the author of ‘Abhinaya Darpanam’ a good treatise on music and dance.
Sreeramulu’s speeches in literary conferences used to be spiced with musical rendering of poems and songs. His magnum opus is ‘Sri Devi Bhagawatham’ a popular ‘parayana grantham’ in temples even today. This memoir is only one aspect of his multi-faceted personality.
Mudra (indentity): Dasu Rama
Dasu Sreeramulu Krutis, Padams and Javalis Kruthis
• vAmanaroopAvandanamu • gaNAdhipati
• jaya jaya vighna
• mAyamma mahishAsura
• paramESwara
• rAmAneemahima
• nee sari daivamu
• radhikAmanOhara
• rAma neeku nAmeeda • nAdAnanda rasaA
Javalis & Padams
• Emanitelupudune • mooTa laDigitina • munjEtikankaNa • neetoTimAtalu
• ramaNi rO samukhAna • valachitirA
• vanitarO
• vAri vAri jOli
• maguva nEnenta
• anta geervANamu • vaTTU beTTeda
• manasudeerenA
• nEnunee dAna
• janulAra
• samsmarAmi
• rAma nAma mantram
• kruta krutyA
• iTu rArA idi mErA
• purushOttamA
• Oh chandra mouLee
• mAnavati jNAnavati
• rAvEtallimAyinTiki
• kAmAndhakaramu • muddu mudduga
• tattara paDanEla
• nanu viDanADuTa • daya lEka
• iddari pondElarA
• inta mOhamA
• nEnerugan nee jADa • kaTTivaiturA
• mukku pachchalArani • nA sAmi
• aDivi mushNi kAya
• nE gAnanA sAmi
• bhAmini rAgadE
• nilu nilu maTunDU
mee
• vaddu vaddurA
• manasichchi nAtO
• kOpamAsAmiyEmira • vaga kADa
• sari sari
• mATADipommanavE • iTu rArA
• mAnavati
• EmanenE kOmali
• teliyadE
• tagu tagulErA
• nAnosaTanE
• pATabADeda
Compositions of Maha Kavi Dasu Sreeramulu Comprising of Krutis, Javalis and Padams dedicated to Venugopalaswamy of Thotla valluru in Krishna Dt, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sri Allur Venkatadri Swamy:
The Great Baktha and Composser Allur Venkatadri Swami was born as Venkatadri, to the blessed couple Sriman Venkaiyya and Srimathi Venkamma, in the prestigious Bharadwaja
gotra, in Uttara Phalguni (Uttara) star, on the auspicious occasion of full moon day of Phalguna (Panguni) month in the Akshaya year (1806), at a village called Alluru in the Jajuru Paradala taluk of Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Venkatadri Swamy had a strong yearning to uplift simple and suffering community by influence of his compassion, divine love and holy music. Reflecting the prime motive of “involvement and service to divya desams and archavatharas” (temples and deity forms), of Sri Vaishnava tradition, he was continuously engaged in visiting temples and unconditionally singing the glory of the Lord Sriman Narayana.
Sri Venkatadri swami went to Bhadrachala and stayed for five years immersing himself in Hari Nama Sankeerthanam. His love was so dynamic that it stirred Sri Rama himself to appear in Swami’s subconscious vision to appreciate his merits. Swami to inscribe one crore Rama namas and sang Keerthanam “Saranu saranu saranu sri rama rama ramachandra” in Kalyanai Ragam in glory of Rama.
The collective auspiciousness of divine abode, sacred Godavari and devout association made Swami to stay in Bhadrachalam. Sri Venkatadri swamy proceeded to Thirumala, on the Bagulasapthami day of the month of Chithra in the year of Dharana (1824) and engrossed himself in floral service for a few years, along with his Divyanama Sankeerthanam and sang keerthanam “Indhira Ramana Ne vindu rara” in Sahana Ragam. while serving at tirumala one day Sri DevaPerumal appeared in swami’s dream and ordered to service him and visit kanchi. .Kanchipuram visit was source of grand transformation in his life.Venkatadri swami took bath in Vegavathi and take Darshan of Perundevi Thayar and sang Keerthanam “Ninu Nammi unna sethamma” in Kapi Ragam then Sri Varadaraja induced Venkatadri Swami’s ecstatic buds by His gracious appearance in the temple, with His consorts, Sri and Bhu devis, accompanied by devotees and scholars. An overwhelmed Swami started dancing escorted by his magnificent Keerthanams sang in Nadai Ragam such as ‘Jaya Jaladhara Shyama’ and ” Deva Deva sowre urare”.
Sri Venkatadri swami’s life was also full of miraculous experiences. One day, when he was gathering flowers from the garden , a snake bit him on his leg. Without any anxiety, he calmly went with a smiling face to the Sannidhi of Sri Perundevi thayar and sang Keerthanam “Kaapaadaraa Nannu” in Kamas Ragam, and finally fainted and became inert, near the Dhwajastambha, due to the effect of the poison. After sometime he got up as if from sleep, went to the Devaraja Sannidhi, took Theertha Prasadam and went on with his routine duties of singing and service, without any let to the kainkaryas.
He lived with his service motive and never bothered about any second element. High officials, rich traders and great scholars were astonished to see the simple and silent person behind incredible service records. Many dignitaries and celebrities surrendered to Swami’s love, lore and luster and one among his illustrious visitors was Lord Francis Napier( 1866-1872), then Governor of Chennai who learnt about the greatness of Swamigal and paid him a reverential visit, when he came to Trichy. Swami never minded great visitors and was simply absorbed in his musical and service moods, always surrounded by spiritual literates. Salvation While Swami was incessantly preoccupied in Namperumal Kainkaryam, his parallel thirst for eternal service made him to strongly demand Sri Ranganatha’s lotus feet. The equally enthusiastic Lord appeared in his dream and gave him the time and date of his Divine communion, which he gleefully informed to his disciples and temple authorities.
Consequently, in Dhatu year (1877) on the midnight of Monday, during the Maasi Saptami tithi, while chanting the Divine Ashtakshara Mantra, a divine light emanated from his head and he attained the Lotus feet of the Lord. His divine form was befittingly decorated and given due respects and rites fit for a Mahatma, by the Thiruvarangam temple authorities.
Since 2006 in Chennai at Sri Allur Venkatadri Swamy Matt, Sri SumaiThangi Ramar Temple Mint Street,Sri Venkatadri Swami’s Theertha Maharchava Aradhanai Vaibavam Celebrating as SRi VENKATADRI SWAMI’S SAPTARATNA KEERTHANAIGAL by SathGuru Sriman Karlapudi Gopanna Ramanuja Dass Swami’s Bhajana Goshti under the Leadership of Sri Karlapudi Ethirajullu Ramanuja Dass and as well as Infront of Sri Venu.Raja Narayanan Sectrary Sri Vaishnava Maha Sangham.
In our next radio program, sixth part of a series of radio programs, we will learn about Sri Prayaga Rangadas, Sri Mallekonda Ramadas and Sri Yedla Ramadas.
Sarma Nimmagadda