Sri Annamaiah on Lord Shri Ram

One sankertan of Sri Annamayya occupies a special place in my heart and mind. That is a purely melodious rendering by paying salutations or tributes, hailing the major deeds and victories of Lord Sri Rama in just three simple stanzas. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Ymi2WD31Y

అన్నమయ్య కీర్తన రాజీవ నేత్రాయ

రాజీవ నేత్రాయ రాఘవాయ నమో ।
సౌజన్య నిలయాయ జానకీశాయ ॥

దశరథ తనూజాయ తాటక దమనాయ
కుశిక సంభవ యజ్ఞ గోపనాయ ।
పశుపతి మహా ధనుర్భంజనాయ నమో
విశద భార్గవరామ విజయ కరుణాయ ॥

భరిత ధర్మాయ శుర్పణఖాంగ హరణాయ
ఖరదూషణాయ రిపు ఖండనాయ ।
తరణి సంభవ సైన్య రక్షకాయనమో
నిరుపమ మహా వారినిధి బంధనాయ ॥

హత రావణాయ సంయమి నాథ వరదాయ
అతులిత అయోధ్యా పురాధిపాయ ।
హితకర శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వరాయ నమో
వితత వావిలిపాటి వీర రామాయ ॥

ANNAMAYYA KEERTHANAS RAAJEEVA NETRAAYA

rājīva nētrāya rāghavāya namō ।
saujanya nilayāya jānakīśāya ॥

daśaratha tanūjāya tāṭaka damanāya
kuśika sambhava yajña gōpanāya ।
paśupati mahā dhanurbhañjanāya namō
viśada bhārgavarāma vijaya karuṇāya ॥

bharita dharmāya śurpaṇakhāṅga haraṇāya
kharadūṣaṇāya ripu khaṇḍanāya ।
taraṇi sambhava sainya rakṣakāyanamō
nirupama mahā vārinidhi bandhanāya ॥

hata rāvaṇāya saṃyami nātha varadāya
atulita ayōdhyā purādhipāya ।
hitakara śrī vēṅkaṭēśvarāya namō
vitata vāvilipāṭi vīra rāmāya ॥

There's an influence of Maharshi Narada (a celestial space traveller) on Sri Annamayya. In this song, we can notice a glimpse of Sri Maharshi Narada. My imagination connects with Maharshi Narada as  himself singing and traveling in space, or it's a kind of astral travel-like experience: 

The song, 'Rajeeva Nethratrya Raghavaya Namo' appears to be a lullaby to Lord Sri Rama at first, then it takes a sudden majestic turn; a hymn to glorify the victories of Lord Rama.  The song lifts our spirit and takes us to the flight... An Astral Travel like Maharshi Narada travels among the celestial bodies, narrating the great deeds in the form of striking glimpses of the victories of Lord Sri Rama. 

The first and second stanzas narrate the significant events that Lord Rama encounters. They offer us a few glimpses of the evolution of Lord Sri Rama, which is well depicted by the sage poet.  They are as follows: 

1. Evolution of Lord Sri Ram, the son of Sri Dasharth, who killed the wicked Thataki to  protect the Yagna of Khushika (Maharshi Viswamitra) 

2. Lord Sri Rama broke the legendary bow of Lord Shiva and won and married Sita. 

3. Lord Sri Ram, the bestower of success, thus subdued the anger of Lord Parashuram (Bhargav Ram) by breaking the legendary bow of Lord Shiva. 

4. How he protects dharma by punishing Shoorpanakha, by destroying evil Khara and Dhooshana. 

5.  How he commands his army at the ocean and builds an unparalleled bridge across it to reach Lanka. 

The last stanza shows Lord Sri Rama's achievement and fulfillment: his reunion with his celestial consort Sita after killing Ravana. Then, the song shows us how he received boons and blessings from the sages and gods.  

In the end, Sri Annamayya, the staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara of Seven Hills, arrives and stops his astral travel to pay his salutations to Lord Venkateshwara. He lands us at Vavilipadu Veera Rama Temple, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, where he composed this song. 

Sri Annamayya strongly advocates that the most benevolent Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Sri Rama are the same. There is no difference between the two. Thus, he merges with the supreme by delving and dissolving in deep devotion to Lord Venkateshwara of Seven Hills. 

Thank you 🙏

T. Venkata Ramana

Lec in English

GCMA, Kadapa