Pala netrala prabala....

Here is a powerful keerthana, dedicated to NaraSimha swamy, by Annamayya that brings out the roudra rasa or anger essence. This piece is in Sanskrit and full of sobriquets attributed to NaraSimha.
While the Telugu movie on Annamayya has accounted this song to have been written when he(Annamayya) is imprisoned by the King, I am not too sure of it. I'll update as I find out more during my research.


ప|| పాలనేత్రానల ప్రబల విద్యుల్లతా | కేళీ విహార లక్ష్మీనారసింహా ||

PAlanEtrAnala prabala vidyullatA | kELI vihAra lakShmInArasiMhA ||

Word-Word meaning:

ఫాల నేత్రనాల Phalanetranala(Phala+netranala)=(Forehead+eyes+of)of the forehead eye; /పాలనేత్రానల PAlanEtrAnala = milky eyes; ప్రబలprabala= powerful; విద్యుల్లతా vidyullatA (Vidyth+ulata) =lighning creeper/; | కేళీkELI =sport/play;విహారvihAra = to roam; లక్ష్మీనారసింహాlakShmInArasiMhA= Lakshmi's NaraSimha( the man-Lion) ||

Meaning:

Of the forehead eye's powerful lightning creeper, roaming for sport, is Lakshmi NaraSimha!

Discussion:

Phala refers to forehead and in this stanza refers to the third eye on the forehead.
I'm guessing that Annamayya is referring to the third eye, its powerful red vein/arteries that resemble a lightning string.

చ|| ప్రళయమారుత ఘొర భస్త్రీకాపూత్కార | లలిత నిశ్వాసడోలా రచనయా |

కూలశైలకుంభినీ కుముదహిత రవిగగన- | చలన విధినిపుణ నిశ్చల నారసింహా ||
praLayamAruta Gora BastrIkApUtkAra | lalita niSvAsaDOlA racanayA |
kUlaSailakuMBinI kumudahita ravigagana- | calana vidhinipuNa niScala nArasiMhA ||

Word-Word meaning:

ప్రళయమారుతpraLayamAruta (Pralaya+amruthamarutha)= The destructive storm+ nectar wind; ఘొరGora = frightful; భస్త్రీకాBastrIkA= bellows/growls; పూత్కారpUtkAra = a heap or mass;లలిత lalita= lotus; నిశ్వాస niSvAsa =stay; డోలాDOlA=swing; రచనయా racanaya= the composer;

కూకులkUla = class,race; శైలSaila=hill/mountain; కుంభినీkuMBinI=Earth; కుముదkumuda=white water lily/red lotus; హితhita= welfare; రవిగగనravigagana=Sun filled sky; చలనcalana= movement;  విధిvidhi= fate,way; నిపుణnipuNa= talent/skill ; నిశ్చలniScala= steady/motionless;  నారసింహాnArasiMhA

Meaning:
The wind of the storm(destruction), with heaps of frightening bellows, one who stays on/with Lotus/Lakshmi, the composer;
The mountain in his Class, the caretaker of Lakshmi(Sridevi) and Earth(Bhoodevi), moving in the Sun filled sky, the skilled one at fate, is the steady Narasimha.
Discussion:
There are sobriquets that are contrasting in this line. First, let's look at the difficult ones. My apologies for having misread the word "marutha" as "amrutha"initially, a misplacement of letter "a" after and before "m". So He is the wind that carries the storm/tornado and causes destruction. Just an example on how the words can be easily misinterpreted!!!
A note that Lakshmi is also refered to as Lalitha/ Kamala or Lotus. Please refer to Sriman Narayana keerthana for discussion on it. The second challenging adjective is that He is the "composer".  The Lord must have composed many "Leelas" or (episodes) but not sure what Annamayya is referring to here.  KulaSaila means to be a mountain in His class or Kula, the strength of the race/class. The last adjective "Nischala" is the contrasting one. Nishchala means motionless and steady. However, Annamayya has refered to the movement of the Lord especially as Narasimha  a couple of times. Taking cue from the previous adjective of being the one who is "skilled with fate/destiny", the motionlessness that he refers to is that of being indifferent to the ups and downs of fate.

చ|| వివరఘనవదన దుర్విధహసన నిష్ఠ్యూత- | లవదివ్య పరుష లాలాఘటనయా |

వివిధ జంతు వ్రాతభువన మగ్నౌకరణ | నవనవప్రియ గుణార్ణవ నారసింహా ||

vivaraGanavadana durvidhahasana niShThyUta- | lavadivya paruSha lAlAGaTanayA |

vividha jaMtu vrAtaBuvana magnaukaraNa | navanavapriya guNArNava nArasiMhA ||
Word- Word meaning:

వివరvivara=detailed/(Vivarnam=pale); ఘనGhana=splendid,great; వదనvadana=face; దుర్విధdurvidha=  bad ways;  హసన hasana = laugh; నిష్ఠ్యూత niShThyUta( NIshtha+Utha) =devout+ joined/connection;  లవlava=loss,destruction; దివ్యdivya= Divine; పరుషparuSha = harsh and severe in deeds; లాలాlAlA= drool ;ఘటనయా GaTanayA= happening,bringing together |

వివిధvividha=various; జంతుjaMtu=animals; వ్రాతvrAta=assemblage (group); భువనBuvana= the world; మగ్నౌmagnau (m)u=immersed; కరణkaraNa= the cause;  నవనవ nava-nava= to be fresh and blooming;  ప్రియpriya= loving; గుణార్ణవ guNArNava= With new character; nArasiMhA ||

Meaning:

The detailed splendid faced one, that laughs off the bad ways, one who destructs the devout joining/connection, The Divine one who is harsh and severe in deeds, the one who drools, 

The cause for various animals groups to be immersed on this Earth;  the  one blooming with love  is the new characterized NAraSimha.
Discussion:
"Nishytha lava" word-word traslated to one who destructs devout joining. It refers to the devotion to worldly pleasures. "Lala Ghatanaya" is a confusing word to interpret. I assume Annamayya is referring to a characteristic of a Lion or means that the Lord attracts amusement.  I could be wrong and have a wrong spelt words. Any suggestions in this regard are welcome.

చ|| దారుణోజ్జ్వల ధగద్ధగిత దంష్ట్రానల వికార స్ఫులింగ సంగక్రీడయా |

 వైరిదానవ ఘోరవంశ భస్మీకరణ- | కారణ ప్రకట వేంకట నారసింహా ||
dAruNOjjvala dhagaddhagita daMShTrAnala vi- | kAra sPuliMga saMga krIDayA

vairidAnava GOravaMSa BasmIkaraNa| kAraNa prakaTa vEMkaTa nArasiMhA ||

Word- Word meaning 

దారుణోజ్జ్వలdAruNOjjvala (Daruna+Ujjvala)= the frightful bright/light ; ధగద్ధగితdhagaddhagita= Brilliancy,glittering; దంష్ట్రనల daMShTrAnala=a large tooth like. tusk ;వికారvikAra= unpleasant;  స్ఫులింగsPuliMga = a spark of fire ; సంగsaMga=union,association or heap; క్రీడయాkrIDayA= sport/play;  వైరిvairi=enemy; దానవdAnava= demon ; ఘోరవంశGOravaMSa= frightful lineage; భస్మీకరణBasmIkaraNa-=one who reduces to ashes;  కారణkAraNa= a reason; ప్రకటprakaTa = to appear; వేంకటvEMkaTa= one who destructs problems; నారసింహాnArasiMhA ||

Meaning:
With fierce brightness, with shining large unpleasant teeth ; the one who plays with the heaps  spark of fire , 
The killer of enemy and demons, with a frightful lineage, one who reduces to ashes, the one who appeared for a reason, is the Venkata Narasimha.

As always, any suggestions and/or comments to improve the translation and understanding of the keerthana are welcome.

Reference:
[1] Paluri ShankarNarayana, Telugu to English dictionary

Kattedura Vaikunttamu...

In this sankeerthana, Annamayya describes the sanctity and the importance of the Tirupathi hills(Konda). Apparently, each of the seven Hills has a story behind it and a reason as to how each got its name. A detailed explanation is given in the blog called "goopuram" by Neelima [2]. These hills are supposed to be deposits of medicinal herbs, water streams and hence miracles for harmful diseases. Also, as goes the popular belief, the Seven hills are supposed to be giver of boons. In one stanza Annamayya describes the hill being the passing ground for many water streams, in another he explains how all the beings have sprung as trees on this Hill to be closer to the Lord.

This song as rendered by Priya sisters can be found here.

కట్టెదుర వైకుంఠము కాణాచయిన కొండ
తెట్టలాయ మహిమలే తిరుమల కొండ
kaTTedura vaikuMThamu kaaNaachayina koMDa
teTTalaaya mahimalae tirumala koMDa
Word- word meaning:
కట్టెదురkaTTedura = build; వైకుంఠముvaikuMThamu= Vaikuntam, abode of Vishnu; కాణా kaaNaa= forest; చయిన chayina(చయము+అయిన  chayamu+ayina)=collection; కొండkoMDa= Hill
తెట్టలాయteTTalaaya= become heaps/hives; మహిమలేmahimalae= miracles; తిరుమలtirumala= Tirumala; కొండ koMDa=Hill
Meaning:
He built "Vaikuntam" on the forest-filled Hill and the miracles heaped on Tirumala Hill.

వేదములే శిలలై వెలసినది కొండ
యేదెస బుణ్యరాసులేయేరులైనది కొండ
కాదిలి బ్రహ్మాదిలోకములకొనల కొండ
శ్రీదేవుదుండేటి శేషాద్రి కొండ
vaedamulae Silalai velasinadi koMDa
yaedesa buNyaraasulaeyaerulainadi
koMDakaadili brahmaadilOkamulakonala koMDa
SreedaevuduMDaeTi Saeshaadri koMDa
Word-word
వేదములేVedamule=Vedas only; శిలలై Shilalai= rocks; వెలసినదిvelasinadi= came into existence; కొండ
యేYe= which; దెస=direction; పుణ్య=auspicious; రాసులే= collection, heap;  యేరులైనది (yerulu+ainadi) =have become roots; కొండ
కాదిలిkadili=The sea; బ్రహ్మాది= Brahma and other;లోకములlokamula= worlds;కొనలKonala= corners; కొండ
శ్రీదేవుదుండేటిSridevudu+undetanti)=where Sri's Lord stays; శేషాద్రి= Sesha Hills; కొండ
Meaning:
With the Vedas becoming the rocks this Hill sprang up.
In all directions and for good deeds has this Hill (become roots) laid the foundation.
The seas along with Brahma and other lokas are the corners of this mountain
This is Seshadri Hills, the abode of Sri's(Lakshmi's) Lord (Venkateswara)
Discussion:
The reference to the Brahma and other lokas being on the four  corners actually means that all the Devas and lokas always look upon this Hill as Venkateswara's abode.

సర్వదేవతలు మృగజాతులై చరించేకొండ
నిర్వహించి జలధులే నిట్టచరులైన కొండ
వుర్విదపసులే తరువులై నిలచిన కొండ
పూర్వటంజనాద్రి యీ పొడవాటి కొండ
sarvadaevatalu mRgajaatulai chariMchaekoMDa
nirvahiMchi jaladhulae niTTacharulaina commode
vurvidapasulae taruvulai nilachina koMDa
poorvaTaMjanaadri yee poDavaaTi koMDa
Word-word
సర్వ sarva= all;దేవతలు devathalu= dieties; మృగజాతులైmruga jaathulai= as animals/living forms; చరించే charinche=to wander/roam;కొండ konda=Hill;
నిర్వహించిnirvahinchi=flowing; జలధులేjaladhule= water streams; నిట్టnitta = erected;చరులైనCHerulu+aina= have become ponds; కొండKonda=hill;
వుర్విదUrvida= Earth's; పసులేpasule= animals; తరువులైtaruvulai=trees; నిలచినnilichina=stood up; కొండ konda=hill;
పూర్వ purva= east/past/first;పు ట= a side/page of a leaf; అంజనాద్రిAnjanadri= The hill of Anjana; యీ Eee=this; పొడవాటి podavati= long; కొండkonda=Hill
Meaning:
All the deities roam around as living forms on this Hill;
All the flowing water streams have become the ponds on this hill;
All the Earth's animals  stood up like trees on this Hill;
an east side Anjanadri is this long hill
Discussion:
The last line of this stanza is vague to me as I did not get the word meaning of " purva+putam+janadri" . I could be missing the story behind its formation.  I must thank one of the commentators, who has directed to a more reasonable meaning for "purvaputamjanadri". I also now have one more reference[4] that actually refers to the word "poorvaputa". In this reference[4] which describes the pooja vidhanam for siddi vinayaka vrata, there is a mention of poorvaputa of a leaf, meaning the first side/page of the leaf. But in this context, I can only allude that Annamayya is referring to a side of the hill Anjanadri.  Any help  in better explaining this word is highly appreciated.
Anjanadri is supposed to have got its name due to the penance Anajana devi, Hanuman's mother does on this hill.

వరములు కొటారుగా వక్కాణించి పెంచేకొండ
పరుగు లక్ష్మీకాంతుసోబనపు గొండ
కురిసి సంపదలెల్ల గుహల నిండిన కొండ
విరివైన దదివో శ్రీవేంకటపు గొండ
varamulu koTaarugaa vakkaaNiMchi peMchaekoMDa
parugu lakshmeekaaMtusObanapu goMDa
kurisi saMpadalella guhala niMDina koMDa
virivaina dadivO SreevaeMkaTapu goMDa
Word-Word:
వరములుvaramulu= boons/blessings; కొటారుగాkotaruga= depository; వక్కాణించిVakkaninchi= to explain; పెంచేpenche= which increases;కొండKonda=Hill;
పరుగుparugu=to run;  లక్ష్మీకాంతుLakshmi Kanthi= Lakshmi's Lord; శోభనపుShobanapu=auspicious, brilliant;   గొండ Konda= Hill
కురిసిKurisi=shower; సంపదsampada= wealth;లెల్లlella=all; గుహలguhala=cave; నిండినnindina=filled with; కొండKonda=Hill
విరివైనదదివో(విరివైనది+అదివో)=wide,extensive+there;  శ్రీవేంకటపు= Sri Venkata's; గొండKonda=Hill.
Meaning:
The heaps of boons requested are increased by explaining/elucidating by this Hill;
The auspicious Hill of Lakshmi's Lord;
This hill is filled with wealth-showering caves;
There is the widely spread Sri Venkata's Hill.

References :
[1] telugu to English dictionary by Paluri ShankarNarayana
[2] http://goopuram.blogspot.com/2011/11/seven-hills-of-tirumala-tirupati.html
[3] Lyrics from http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/11/79katteduraa-vaikuntamu.html
[4] http://www.scribd.com/doc/160400723/Varasiddhi-Vinayaka-Vrata-FAQ-2013