chandamama ravo

This is a beautiful song referring to moon. Culturally, the moon is referred to as "mama" or uncle, mostly all over India. The first stanza is a request to the moon to come with full moonlight, and buttermilk in a golden cup. From the second stanza onwards, the song describes, to whom the moon should bring the moonlight and buttermilk in golden cup. 

Second stanza describes epithets of Vishnu, third stanza of little baby Krishna, and the last stanza a combination, ending with Venkata pathi. The descriptions/epithets are almost two each line, i.e. 24 epithets and names of Vishnu in all are referred to in this song. :).


There is a popular rhyme/song for kids which is to ask the moon to come with various things for the little baby. My guess is that it must be a variant of this song.

S. Janaki and Balakrishna Prasad rendered this song beautifully and can be found here. Their version is missing the second stanza.

SriKrishna rendered this song in a different tune.  

చందమామ రావో జాబిల్లి రావో
కుందనపు పైడికోర వెన్నపాలు తేవో॥
ChaMdamaama raavO jaabilli raavO
maMchi kuMdanapu paiDi kOra venna paalu taevO
Word-Word:
చందమామchandamama(chanda+mama)=(moon+uncle); రావోraavo=come; జాబిల్లిjaabilli = moonlight; రావోravo= come;
కుందనపుkundanapu=pure gold; పైడిpaidi=gold; కోరkora=cup; వెన్నపాలుvennepaalu=buttermilk; తేవోtaevo=get॥
Meaning:
Moon uncle, come; moonlight come;
pure gold cup,buttermilk- get
Discussion:
Culturally, the moon is referred to as "mama" or uncle, mostly all over India. This song is a request to the moon to come with full moonlight, and buttermilk in a golden cup.

నగుమోము చక్కనయ్యకు నలువపుట్టించిన తండ్రికి
నిగమములందుండే అప్పకు మా నీలవర్ణునికి
జగమెల్ల ఏలిన స్వామికి చక్కని ఇందిర మగనికి
ముగురికి మొదలైన ఘనునికి మాముద్దుల మురారి బాలునికి॥
nagumOmu chakkani yayyaku; naluva buTTiMchina taMDriki
nigamamu laMduMDae yappaku;maa neela varNuniki
jagamella naelina svaamiki; iMdira maganiki
muguriki modalaina ghanuniki; maa muddula muraari baaluniki
Word-Word:
నగుnagu= smile;మోముmomu= face; చక్కనయ్యకుchakkanayyaku(chakkani+ayya+ku)=(apt+man+to) నలువnaluva= Brahma, one with four heads; పుట్టించినputtinchina= who produced; తండ్రికిtandriki= to father;
నిగమములందుండేnigamamulandu(nigamalu+andu+unde)=(vedas+within+present) అప్పకుappaku=(appa+ku)father+to; మాmaa= our; నీలneela=blue;వర్ణునికిvarnuDu=hued-one
జగమెల్లjamella(jagamu+ella)=world+whole; ఏలినaelina= reigned; స్వామికిswamiki= to lord; చక్కని chakkani= good;ఇందిరindira= lotus/Lakshmi; మగనికిmaganiki= husband/man;
ముగురికిmuguriki= to the three; మొదలైనmodalaina= etc.; ఘనునికిghanuniki=to the magnificent; మాmaa= our; ముద్దులmuddula=lovely; మురారిmurari(mura+hari)=(Mura,demon+vanquisher)the vanquisher of Mura, Krishna; బాలునికిbaaluniki= to the boy;॥
Meaning:
To the smile faced apt man, to Brahma-producing father,
to within vedas present father, to our blue-hued one,
to whole world reigning Lord, to the good/beautiful Lakshmi' husband
to the three and beyond manificient one, to our lovely vanquisher-of-Mura boy
Discussion:
This stanza describes more the titles of Vishnu. Brahma is believed to have emerged from Vishnu's navel. Hence Vishnu is Brahma's father. The presence of Vishnu, according to Annamayya can be felt in the Vedas. Please refer to reference [3] for the story behind vanquishing the demon Mura.

తెలిదమ్మి కన్నులమేటికి మంచి తియ్యని మాటల గుమ్మకు
కలికిచేతల కోడెకు మా కతలకారి ఈబిడ్డకు
కులముద్దరించిన పట్టెకు మంచి గుణములు కలిగిన కోడెకు
నిలువెల్ల నిండబొయ్యారికి నవనిధుల చూపుల చూచేసుగుణునకు॥
telidammi kannula maeTiki; maMchi tiyyani maaTala gummaku
kaliki chaetala kODeku; maa katala kaari ee biDDaku
kula muddhiMchina paTTeku; maMchi guNamulu kaligina kODeku
niluvella niMDu voyyaariki; nava nidhula choopula joosae suguNunaku
Word-word:
తెలిదమ్మిtellidammi(tella+thami)=(white lotus); కన్నులkannula= eyes; మేటికిmaetiki=lord; మంచిmanchi= good; తియ్యనిtiyyani= sweet; మాటలmaatalu=talk/words; గుమ్మకుgummaku= pretty one;
కలికిkaliki= charming; చేతలchaetala=habits; కోడెకుkoeDeku=to the young bull; మాmaa=our; కతలకారిkatalakaari=(story+maker)cheater; ఈee= this; బిడ్డకుbiDDaku= to the baby;
కులముద్దరించినkulamuddarichina(kulamu+uddarinchina)=(clan+raise/protect)who clan protected; పట్టెకుpaTTeku=to the coronated-one; మంచిmanchi= good; గుణములుgunamulu=characteristics; కలిగినkaligina=posessing; కోడెకుKoDe=bull calf;
నిలువెల్ల niluvella(niluvu+ella)=(longstanding+always); నిండnimDa= full;బొయ్యారికి voyyariki=to the graceful one ; నవnava= new;నిధులniDhula=treasures; చూపులchopula= gazes; చూచేchooche= who sees;సుగుణునకుsuguNunaku=good+qualities one॥
Meaning:
To the white lotus eyed Lord, to the good sweet talking charming one;
to the charming deeds young bull, to our cheating this little baby;
to the clan-protecting coronated one; good qualities posessing bull-calf;
longstanding always full graceful one; to the new-treaures-gazes who sees, that virtued one;
Discussion:
This stanza describes the charming little boy, Krishna. Annamayay repeats Koede(young bull) twice in this stanza, more to signify Krishna's childhood as a cowherdsman.

సురలగాచిన దేవరకు చుంచు గరుడునెక్కిన గబ్బికి
నెరవాది బుద్దుల పెద్దకు మా నీటు చేతల పట్టికి
విరుల వింటివాని అయ్యకు వేవేలురూపుల స్వామికి˜
సిరిమించునెరవాది జాణకు మా శ్రీ వేంకటనాధునికి॥
surala gaachina daevaraku chuMchu garuDuni nekkina gabbiki
neravaadi buddhula peddaku maa neeTu chaetala paTTiki
virula viMTi vaani yayyaku vaevaelu roopula svaamiki
sirimiMchu neravaadi jaaNaku maa Sree vaeMkaTaeSvaruniki
సురలsuralu=Celestials; గాచినgaachina= protected; దేవరకుDaevaruku=to the God; చుంచుchunchu= tearing, to make pieces; గరుడునెక్కినgaruDunekkina(garuDanu+ekkina)= Vulture ride; గబ్బికిgabbiki= o the noble/hero
నెరవాదిneravaadi=clever skilful man; బుద్దులbuddula=of the senses; పెద్దకుpeddaku=to the biggest; మాmaa= our; నీటుneeTu=charming; చేతలchaetala=deeds/action; పట్టికిpaTTiki= to the infant/child;
విరులvirula=flower; వింటివానిvintivaani(vinti+vaani)=(bow+holder/one)holder of flower arrows/cupid ; అయ్యకుayyaku= to the father; వేవేలుvevaelu=thousands of thousands;రూపులroopula=forms; స్వామికిswamiki= to the Lord;
సిరిsiri= treasure;మించుminchu= transgress;నెరవాదిnaeravaadi=clever/skilful one; జాణకుjaaNaku= to the wise one; మాmaa= our; శ్రీSri వేంకటVaenkata= The hill of Venkaa;నాధునికిnaadhuniki= to the Lord॥
Meaning:
to the Celestial-protecting God; the tearing-Vulture riding noble/hero
to the skillful sensible biggest/magnificient one;to our charming deeds infant
to the flower bowholder(Cupid)'s father; to the thousands of thousands of forms' Lord
to the treasure-transgressed skilled wise one;to Sri Venkata's Lord
Discussion:
In this stanza, the first line describes Vishnu , while the other lines are more applicable to Krishna. Prdyumn, son of Krishna is consisdered to be the reincarnation of Cupid.


As always, any suggestions and comments that would help in better understanding of this song are highly appreciated.


References:

[1]http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/11/75chandamama-ravo.html

[2]http://www.annamayyakeerthanalu.in/2014/05/chandamama-ravo-annamayya-sankkeerthana.html
[3] Mura story: http://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/associates/demons/dwarka/mura.htm
[4] Telugu to English dictionary: Andhra Bharathi

bhavamulona bahyamu nanduna

 In this poem, Annamayya explains the significance of each of Venkatesha's names. Interestingly, he uses a different verb to describe the way the name has to be said. For example, he says "Serve by saying Govinda", "search by saying Vishnu", "seek shelter by saying Achyutha".  There is a far more intellectual and spiritual intention to this Annamayya's poem that can be explained easily.I am just attempting to bring forth the literal meaning and leaving it to the readers to delve deeper and contemplate for spiritual contention.

MS Subbalakshmi's rendition of the song can be found here.

భావములోన బాహ్యమునందును, గోవిందగోవిందయని కొలువవో మనసా
bhAvamu lOna bAhyamu nanduna, gOvinda gOvinda ani koluvavO manasA ...

Word-Word:

భావముbhavamu= heart/mind;లోనlona= with/in; బాహ్యమునందునుbahyamunanduna (bahyamu+ nanduna)=(exterior+on) on the exterior, గోవింద GovindaగోవిందGovinda; యనిani= say; కొలువవో koluvavo= serve, O!;మనసాmanasa=mind
Meaning:
In heart and outwardly, "Govinda Govinda" say and serve O mind!
Discussion:
Annamayya urges his mind to serve both externally and internally, by saying "Govinda".  Govinda actually translates to (go+vinda= cow+appease) one who appeases the cows. Annamayya explains the way to use that name to serve.

హరియవతారములే అఖిలదేవతలు హరిలోనివే బ్రహ్మాణ్డములు

హరినామములే అన్ని మంత్రములు హరిహరి హరిహరి యనవోమనసా
hari avathAramule akhila dEvatalu, hari lonive brahmAnDammulu
hari nAmamule anni manthramulu, hari hari hari hari ~ hari anavo manasa ...
Word-Word:

హరిHari= hari;యవతారములేavatharamule= incarnations only; అఖిలakhila= all; దేవతలుdevathalu= Gods; హరిHari= లోనివేLonive= inside+only; బ్రహ్మాణ్డములుbrahmandamulu= galaxies;

హరిHari= నామములేnamamule=names only; అన్నిanni= all; మంత్రములుmantramulu= mantras; హరిహరి Hari Hari హరిహరిHari Hari యనవోanavo= say, O!;మనసాmanasa=mind

Meaning:
Hari's incarnations are all that of Gods;inside Hari are all the galaxies;
Hari's names are all the mantras/chants; "HariHari, HariHari" say O! mind
Discussion:
The lines are self-explanatory. "Hari" literally translates to "one who steals"

విష్ణుని మహిమలే విహిత కర్మములు విష్ణుని పొగడెడి వేదంబులు
విష్ణుడొక్కడె విశ్వాంతరాత్ముడు విష్ణువు విష్ణువని వెదకవో మనసా
vishnuni mahimalE vihita karmamulu, vishnuni pogaDeDi vEdammulu
vishnuDu okkaDE vishvAntarAthmuDu, vishnuvu vishnuvani vedakavo manasA ...
Word-Word:

విష్ణునిVishnuni=the omni-present one; మహిమలేmahimale= miracles; విహిత= ordained; కర్మములు karmamulu= action/deeds;విష్ణునిVishnuni= of Vishnu; పొగడెడిpogadide= praise; వేదంబులుvedambulu= vedas;
విష్ణుడొక్కడెVishnudokkade(Vishnudu+okkade)= Visnu+alone; విశ్వాంతరాత్ముడుVishwantaratmudu (Vishwa+antaratmudu) =(the universe+residing in inner soul) the univesal supreme soul;  విష్ణువు Vishnuvu విష్ణువనిVishnuvu+ani=Vishnu+say; వెదకవోvedakavo=search, O!; మనసాmanasa=mind!
Meaning:
Vishnu's miracles are the ordained actions; Of Vishnu praise the Vedas;
Vishnu alone is the universal supreme soul; "Vishnu Vishnu" say and search, O mind!
Discussion:
Vishnu literally translates to omni-present. Hence, all the miracles are ordained actions of the omni-present one. It is this omni-present being that the Vedas talk about. Since he is omni present, He resides in every soul in the universe. For me, the gist  and irony with which Annamayya says "search" for (the omni-present )Vishnu is the best description I have read.

అచ్యుతుడితడె ఆదియునంత్యము అచ్యుతుడే అసురాంతకుడు
అచ్యుతుడు శ్రీవేంకటాద్రిమీదనిదె అచ్యుత అచ్యుత శరణనవో మనసా
Achyuthudithade Adiyu nantyamu, Achyuthude asurAntakudu
Achyuthudu Sri venkatadri meedA neeve, Achyutha Achyutha Sharananavo manasA ...
Word-Word:

అచ్యుతుడితడె(achyuthudu+ithade)=(eternal+he only)  ఆదియుaadiyu= the beginning; నంత్యముantyamu= end; అచ్యుతుడేachyuthude= Achyutha himself; అసురాంతకుడుasurantakudu(asura+antakudu)=(demon+one who ends/destroys) demon destructor;
అచ్యుతుడుachyuthudu= The Achyutha;  శ్రీవేంకటాద్రిSri venkatadri= the Venkata hill; మీదనిదెmeedanide(meedane?)= upon; అచ్యుత Achyutha; అచ్యుతAchyutha; శరణనవో sharananao (sharanu+anavo)= (seek shelter+say) say to seek shelter; మనసాmanasa=mind!
Meaning:
He is eternal; the beginning and the end; Achyutha is the demon-destroyer;
Achyutha is on Venkata hill; "Achyutha Achyutha" say and seek shelter, o mind!
Discussion:
 Achyutha translates to eternal.  In this stanza, Annamayya aptly urges his mind to seek shelter with the "Achyutha" since He is the beginning and also the end.

Any suggestions and/ comments to help in better understanding the poem are appreciated :).

References:
[1]http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/09/10bhavamulona-bahyamunandunu.html

Dolayam cala dolayam

This keerthana is one of the Sankrit kritis by Annamayya describing the ten Avataras or incarnations of Vishnu along with a few other adjectives used to describe Vishnu. Even though the first line starts with dola(swing) seva tone, he later switches to describing the ten avataras of Vishnu. The structure of each stanza has 2 lines each in a stanza. The first line in each stanza describes the incarnations considered to be part of the ten main incarnations or "Dasavatara", while the second line describes adjectives related to the mentioned avataras or less significant names of the Lord. The first two charanams/stanzas mention 4 avatars each while the last stanza mentions the last two avataras.
Here is the link to MS SUbba LAkshmi's redition of the same keerthana. The tune is catchy and soothing.


Pallavi
డోలాయాo, చల డోలాయాo, హరి  డోలాయాo
ḍōlāyāṃ cala ḍolāyāṃ harē ḍolāyām ||

Word to word meaning:
డోలాయాoDolayam= Swing; చలcala= Goddess Lakshmi; డోలాయాodolayam= Swing; హరిhare= Hari, Vishnu; డోలాయాodolayam

Meaning: " Swing Godess Lakshmi, Swing Lord Hari,...swing...."
Discussion:
Annamayya must have composed this song for Swami vari "Dolotsvam" which is the seva during which Venkateswara swamy, along with his wife(wives?) is swung on a swing. So here Ananmayya starts his first line where he says "Swing Godess Lakshmi, swing Hari". The music and lyrics makes one's heart swing along with the Lord and Lakshmi.

Charanam
మీన కూర్మ వరాహ మృగపతి అవతారా
దానవారె గుణశౌర్యే ధరణిధర మరుజనక
mīna kūrma varāha mṛgapati avatāra |
dānavārē guṇaṣaurē dharaṇīdhara maru janaka||

Word to word meaning:
మీనmīna= Fish; కూర్మkūrma= Turtle; వరాహvarāha= boar; మృగపతిmṛgapati=King of Animals(Lion man); అవతారాavatāra =incarnation|
దానవారెdānavārē( danava+ari)= (Demon+enemy), an Epithet of Vishnu; గుణguṇa= quality, character;శౌర్యేṣaurē= courageous, valor;ధరణిధర dharaṇī+dhara= One who bore the Earth ; మరుmaru(marudu)=Cupid; జనక janaka=father

Meaning:"Fish,Turtle,Boar, Lion-man incarnator, the genorous-giver, the one with courageous-character, the bearer of Earth, the Father of Cupid..."

Discussion: In the first sentence of this stanza, Annamayya begins the avataras of Vishnu, starting with Meenavatara, the Fish-form of incarnation, the Kurma-avatara,(Turtle-form), the varaha(Boar) avatara. There are some interesting analogies related to Lord Vishnu's avataras. Let's understand the stories behind each of the vatara, briefly.
In "Meenavatara", Lord Vishnu appeared as a fish to Manu and warned him about the impending flood that was to drown the earth. He was suggested to build a ship and have all the medicinal herbs, animals, and the seven sages with him. So in Meenavatara, Vishnu was only a messenger and did not kill any demon.
In Kurma avatara, when the gods and demons, wanted a foundation on which they can place the mountain Mandara to churn the ocean. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a turtle and bore the Mandara mountain on his back. SO in Kurma avatara, Vishnu was more a helper and did not kill any asurs/demons.
In Narsimha avatara,he took the form of Lion-man(half Lion and half man) to kill the demon Hiranyakashyap, since he had the boon of not to be killed by a man or an animal. From this vatar on-wards, Vishnu is supposed to have killed the evil.
If one looks at the progression of the avataras, it is amazing to find that it actually depicts the evolution of living forms.The aquatic animals (fish) were first vetebrates, then came the ambhibians(turtle), and then followed the land animals and mammals (Lion). Just a off-track thought. Some may disagree with the analogy.
The second sentence in the stanza presents the adjectives that describe the various qualities of Vishnu. DanaVari is the enemy of Danava(demons). GunaSOurye means the courageous one, maru janaka is the father of the Marudu(Cupid). Pradhyumna is considered to be an incarnation of Cupid, and Krishna is his father, hence the name "marujanaka".

వామన రామ రామ వరకృష్ణ అవతార
శ్యామలాంగా రంగ రంగ  సామజవరద మురహరణ
vāmana rāma rāma varakṛṣṇa avatāra |
śyāmalāṅgā raṅga raṅga sāmajavarada muraharaṇa ||


Word to word meaning:
వామనvāmana= Dwarf; రామrāma= Rama(Parushurama); రామrāma= King Rama; వరకృష్ణvarakṛṣṇa= the blessed Krishna; అవతార avatāra |
శ్యామలśyāmala= Dark ; అంగాāṅgā=parts; రంగ రంగraṅga raṅga ;సామజsāmaja=elephant; వరదvarada=giver of boons; మురహరణ muraharaṇa= Killer of Demon Mura ||

Meaning:"Vamana, Rama (Parushu Rama), Rama (Ayodhya's King Rama), Vara Krishna incarnator, the dark-skinned one, also called ranga, the giver of boons to the elephant, Killer of the Demon Mura..."
Discussion: After Narsimha avatara, Vishnu took the form of a Dwarf. He then was born as a Brahmin Parushu Rama. Then took the form of the Kshatriya Rama. He also took the form of the Yadava King, Krishna. Please refer to my previous blog "brahma kadigina padamu" for more details about Vamana avatara, Parushu rama.
The second sentence as in the first stanza are basically adjectives to describe Vishnu. He is the dark-skinned one(krishna), also Ranga, the protecter of Elephant(refer to Brahma kadigina padam for the story related to elephant), he is the killer of the Demon Mura, who captivated sixteen thousand maidens.

దారున బుద్ధ కలికి దశ విధ అవతార
సీరపాణె  గోశమనె శ్రీ వేంకటగిరి కూటనిలయ
dāruṇa buddha kaliki daśavidha avatāra |
śīrapāṇē gōsamāṇē śrī vēṅkaṭagiri kūṭanilayā ||

Word to word meaning:
దారునdāruṇa= Earth??unexpectedly, suddenly; బుద్ధbuddha= Buddha; కలికి kaliki  దశ విధdaśavidha(dasa+vidha)= (ten+ways)ten types, అవతార  avatāra= incarnation;
సీరపాణెśīrapāṇē= Epi. of Balarama; One who holds Plough;  గోశమనెgōsamāṇē=(go +samane= cow+appeasing) one who appeases the cows; śrī vēṅkaṭagiri= VenkataHills(tirupati) kūṭa= summit of a mountain; nilayā =one who lives||

Meaning:" The Budha and the Kalki, the one with ten different incarnations, the Holder of Plough(Balrama),the appeaser of the cows, the one whose abode is the summit of Venkatagiri Mountain"

Discussion: Annamayya finishes the ten avatara descriptions of Vishnu with Budha and Kalki. Kalki is supposed to be the final avatar of Vishnu, who would rescue the world during a holocost that is meant to end all evil.  The second line according to the pattern of this piece, are adjectives. According to Bhagavath purana  Balrama is an incarnation too, however, Bhagavath purana describes about 22 incarnations and not the popular ten incarnations. So, Annamayya describes, Seera pani(holder of plough), the one who resides in Venkata giri....Swing , swing with Lakshmi, Swing hari......
I could not find the meaning of Gosamane. Any help would be appreciated. I could have had the word wrong too...  I thank one of the readers who commented and gave me the meaning of "gosamane".
So there is a belief that the Buddha who is considered to be Vishnu Avatar is not Gautama Budha and that He is a different Budha. Will update the post as I research more and find proper descriptions. In the meantime if anybody could enlighten more on the subject, please feel free to comment. :)