Alarulu kuriyaga

This is yet another song dedicated to Alamelmanga. Annamayya describes the scene when Alamelmanga is dancing behind a curtain. There are two ways dancing behind the curtain can be perceived. One is that of dancing privately for oneself. The other is based on Annamayya's refernce to Alamelmanga as the displeased one (alakala kulukula). She dances around with a curtain around her to prevent others, especially her Lord with whom she is still angry,  from seeing her dancing. But with flowers showering from trees, Alamelmanga couldnot contain her urge to dance. Her friends see her dance and applaud. However, her feet are visible from beneath the curtain and hence Annamayya describes her feet and her dance based on her feet movement. Lord Venkateswara watches her dance behind the curtain and in second stanza Annamayya describes that turns and trots in her dance melt Hari's heart.
This is a very popular Kuchipudi dance piece. Also, this style of dancing behind the curtain is used to introduce the dancer/character in a dance drama especially in Kuchipudi.

 The format of the poem is yet another unique style, where the first word in each verse of a stanza rhymes with each other. 

అలరులు గురియగ నాడెనదే |
అలకల గులుకుల నలమేలుమంగ ||
alarulu guriyaga naaDenadE |
alakala gulukula nalamElumaMga ||
Word-word:
అలరులుalarulu= blossoms; గురియగkuriyaga(kuriyu+aga)=(shower+as/when) as showered; నాడెనదేnaaDenade= danced/played|
అలకలalakala= displeasure/curl; గులుకులkuluku= pert/showing attitude; నలమేలుమంగalamelmanga=Alamelmanga ||
Meaning:
As flower-blossoms showered, she danced;
the usually displeased with an attitude; Alamelmanga
Discussion:
As flowers were showering, Alamelmanga danced. The description of Alamelmanga as " alakala kulukula" ("usually displeased and pert") by Annamayya is an expression of casual rapport. It is a common cultural expression used to teasingly describe girls who are easily displeased and throw tantrums by kith and kin.

అరవిరి సొబగుల నతివలు మెచ్చగ
అర తెర మరుగున నాడె నదే |
వరుసగ పూర్వదు వాళపు తిరుపుల
హరి గరగింపుచు నలమేలుమంగ ||
araviri sobagula nativalu meccaga
ara tera maruguna naaDe nadE |
varusaga poorvadu vaaLapu tirupula
hari garagiMpucu nalamElumaMga ||
Word-Word:
అరవిరిaraviri(ara+viri)=(half+blossomed); సొబగులsebagulu=pretty/beauty; నతివలుativalu=women; మెచ్చగmecchaga=applauded/praised;
అరara=half; తెరtera=veil; మరుగునmaruguna=behind curtain/screen; నాడె నదే |
వరుసగvarusaga=sequentially; పూర్వpoorva= the first దువాళపుduvaLapu= of trot; తిరుపులtirupula=turning;
హరిhari=Hari; గరగింపుచుkarigimpuchu= melting; నలమేలుమంగ ||
Meaning:
half-blossomed pretty women as applauded
With half veil, behind a curtain, she danced
sequentially with each trot turning
Hari-melting almelmanga
Discussion:
Pretty young adolescent women watching Alamelmanga applauded while she danced behind a curtain in a half veil.  This part of dance where the dancer dances behind a curtain is used in Kuchipdi for introducing different characters. In this part of the dance, only the feet of the dancer are visible. Hence Annamayya describes her trots and turns. Her trots and turns melted Hari, who was watching Alamelmanga.

మట్టపు మలపుల మట్టెలకెలపుల
తట్టెడి నడపుల దాటెనదే |
పెట్టిన వజ్రపు పెండెపు దళుకులు
అట్టిట్టు చిమ్ముచు నలమేలుమంగ ||
maTTapu malapula maTTelakelapula
taTTeDi naDapula daaTenadE |
peTTina vajrapu peMDepu daLukulu
aTTiTTu cimmucu nalamElumaMga ||
Word-Word:
మట్టపుmattapu=with entireity; మలపులmalpula=turning; మట్టెలmattela= toerings; కెలపులkelapula (kalapula??)=meeting/ to mix;
తట్టెడిtaTTEdi=pony; నడపులnadapula=gait/walk; దాటెనదేdaaTenade(daati+nade)=(crossed,+did she |
పెట్టినpeTTina=that she wore; వజ్రపుvajrapu=of diamond; పెండెపుpendapu=Anklet; దళుకులుtaLukolu= shine like a flash;
అట్టిట్టుaTTiTTu= this way and that way; చిమ్ముచుchimmuchu=to sweep/ toss; నలమేలుమంగ ||
Meaning:
With complete turning, the toerings rubbing(the ground)
with pony gait crossed did she;
the worn diamond anklet gleamed
as this and that way tossed Alamelmanga;
Discussion:
Continuing from the last stanza, Annamayya describes the feet of Alamelmanga, especially the ornaments on her toes and ankles during dancing.  With full turns (possible on her toes), Alamelmanga's toerings rubbed the ground.She turned and jumped like a pony. Her anklet gleamed as she jumped.

చిందుల పాటల శిరిపొలయాటల
అందెల మ్రోతల నాడె నదే |
కందువ తిరువెంకటపతి మెచ్చగ
అందపు తిరుపుల నలమేలుమంగ ||
ciMdula paaTala SiripolayaaTala
aMdela mrOtala naaDe nadE |
kaMduva tiruveMkaTapati meccaga
aMdapu tirupula nalamElumaMga ||
Word-Word:
చిందులchindula=hops/dance; పాటలpaaTala=songs; శిరిపొలయాటల(Siri+polayu+aaTalu)=(fortune+love +play)
అందెలamdela=trinklet worn by women on anklets; మ్రోతల=sounds; నాడె నదే |
కందువkanduva=place; తిరువెంకటపతిTiru venkatapathi మెచ్చగmecchaga= applaud/appreciate;
అందపుamdapu=pretty; తిరుపులtirupala=turning; నలమేలుమంగ ||
Meaning:
For dance songs that spread lovely play
with anklet-trinklets sounds danced did she;
The place of Venkata's Lord as applauded,
the pretty turning Alamelmanga....
Conclusion:
For conclusion, Annamayya describes that Alamelmanga was hoppinging to songs  that spread love. She danced with her anklets sound. Venkatapathi who watched the dance also applauded.

Any comments or suggestions for better understanding of this keerthana are appreciated.


References:

[1] Lyrics: http://www.hinduliterature.org/telugu/stotrams/annamayya_keerthanas_alarulu_kuriyaga.php
[2] Dictionary: http://www.andhrabharati.com/dictionary/
[3] Paluri Shankarnarayana, Telugu to English dictionary.

suvvi suvvi suvvalamma

This is a folk song by Annamayya that describes the events soon after Krishna's birth. The anupallavi starts with a line "suvvi suvvi suvvalamma" which is also a popular song's anupallavi from Telugu movie "swathi mutyam". "Suvvi" is a word usually sung in chorus by women. "Suvvalamma" translates to requesting

BalaKrishna Prasad renders this song without the third stanza here.

సువ్వి సువ్వి సువ్వాలమ్మా
నవ్వుచు దేవకి నందను గనియె॥
Word-Word:
సువ్విsuvvi= a chorus; సువ్విsuvvi= chorus to be sung; సువ్వాలమ్మాsuvvalamma= all women join to sing the chorus"suvvi"
నవ్వుచుnavvuchu= with smiles; దేవకి devaki= Devaki, mother of Krishna; నందనుnandanu= son; గనియెganiye= gave birth॥
Meaning:
Suvvi Suvvi suvvalamma
with smiles Devaki gave birth to a son.

శశి వొడచె అలసంబులు గదచె
దిశ దేవతల దిగుళ్ళు విడచె॥
Word-Word:
శశిsasi= moonlight; వొడచెvodache=diminishing; అలసంబులుalasambulu= tiresome/fatigue; గడచెgaDiche=passed;
దిశDisa= Directions; దేవతలdevatalu= Gods; దిగుళ్ళుdigullu= worries; విడచెvidache= left॥
Meaning:
The moonlight diminished, fatigue passed
the direction Gods' worries left
Discussion:
Krishna was born on ashtami(8th day) from poornima , i.e, the krishna paksham or 15 days where the moon starts diminishing from full moon to no moon. Ashtami is exactly the mid day in a paksham. Hence the moon diminished reference which also indirectly refers to the day being ashtami.
Krishna was born at night with the whole world sleeping. But his birth has caused excitement too. Especially to the gods of directions, whose worries were gone after Krishna's birth.

కావిరి విరసె కంసుడు గినిసె
వావిరి పువ్వుల వానలు గురిసె॥
Word-Word:
కావిరిkaaviri= blackness; విరసెvirase= blossomed; కంసుడుkamsuDu= kamsa, the evil uncle of Krishna; గినిసెganise=wrapped;
వావిరిvaaviri= relatives/family; పువ్వులpuvvula= flowers; వానలుvaanalu= rain; గురిసెgurise= showered॥
Meaning:
Blackness blossomed; Kamsa (it) sought
family flowers rain showered
Discussion:
The reference to darkness blossoming alludes to two things. One being that the new born baby was dark skinned, the other being that the night itself became darker in order to allow Krishna's escape from prison where his parents were imprisoned by his uncle Kamsa. Kamsa on hearing the prophecy that the eight child of his sister, Devaki is going to cause his death, imprisons his sister with her newly-wed husband, Vasudev. Kamsa kills all her 7 children as soon as they are born. But nature plays a significant hand in helping Vasudeva swap his son, Krishna with Vasudev's friend,Nanda's new-born daughter. Annamayya refers to the events that follow with Vasudev's journey from prison to Nanda's house.
The darkness that blossomed, sought Kamsa and wrapped his head. Kamsa was incapacitated or unaware of the happenings in the prison. According to Annamayya, as Vasudev made his way out of the prison, flowers showered from trees/plants to welcome Krishna.

గతి సేసె అటు గాడిద గూసె
కుతిలకుడిచి జనకుడు నోరు మూసె॥
Word-Word:
గతిgati= motion; సేసెsese= doing; అటుaTu= there; గాడిదgaaDida= donkey; గూసెgoose= brayed;
కుతిలkuthila=pain; కుడిచిkuDichi=assembling; జనకుడుjanakuDu= father (of Krishna); నోరుnooru= mouth; మూసెmoose= closed;॥
Meaning:
Motion started there; a donkey brayed
assembling pain, Father mouth closed
Discussion:
Commotion started and a donkey started braying. As Vasudeva was escaping from prison, the donkey's braying caused  a lot of noise and Vasudeva was scared that the  noise would wake up a lot of guards that were sleeping.  So Vasudeva, Krishna's father goes to the donkey and tries to calm it and cause it to stop bryaing. There is a reference to the donkey in a popular proverb in Telugu that a King like Vasudeva had to calm a donkey in bad times.

గగురు పొడిచె లోకము విధి విడిచె
మొగులు గురియగ యమునపై నదచె॥
Word-Word:
గగురుgagaru= hair-rising; పొడిచెpodache=poked; లోకముlokam= the world; విధిvidhi= destiny/nature; విడిచెviDiche= left;
మొగులుmogulu= clouds; గురియగguriyaga=thundered; యమునపైyamunapai= on Yamuna; నదచెnaDache= walked॥
Meaning:
hair-rising poked; world left its nature;
clouds thundered; on Yamuna walked
Discussion:
After Vasudeva started his journey outside the prison, the events that followed are hair-rising experiences because, the nature seemed to have left its true "nature". It was a dark night with clouds thundering and it rained heavily. Vasudeva had to cross Yamuna to reach his friend, Nanda's house. Vasudeva crossed Yamuna as though he walked through the waters. FIguratively, Yamuna is supposed to have made way for Krishna.

కలిజారె వేంకటపతి మీరె
అలమేల్మంగ నాంచారమ్మ అలుకలు తీరె॥
Word-Word:
కలిkali=fight; జారెjaare=skid; వేంకటపతిvenkatapati=Venkata's Lord; మీరెmeere= shone;
అలమేల్మంగ= alamelmanga, the goddess of Lotus/Padmavathi; నాంచారమ్మnancharamma=?? a lady; అలుకలుalukalu=anger; తీరెtheere= cease;
Meaning:
Flight broke (that made) Venkatapathi to shine
As Alamelmanga's anger was quenched
Discussion
Annamayya shifts focus from Krishna to Venkatesha in last stanza. Venkatesha's reason of origin is attributed to Lakshmi's anger and abandoning Vaikuntum over Vishnu holding the feet of Brighu for forgiveness, when Brighu had kicked Vishnu in his chest/heart which is Lakshmi's abode. Brighu on being ignored by Brahma and Shiva during his visit to their abodes, is outraged when Vishnu follows their suit. He in a whiff of anger kicks Vishnu on his chest. Lakshmi is not only angered by Brighu's irreverence to Vishnu but also hurt that he had kicked Vishnu on his chest where Lakshmi is supposed to reside :). Her anger is furthered when Vishnu apologises Brighu for ignoring him and holds Brighu's feet. Lakshmi's anger shifts towards Vishnu for apologising and massaging the feet of the culprit who had kicked her abode. She leaves Vaikuntum. Vishnu, unable to bear her separation, roams on Earth until he meets Padmavathi or Alamelmanga. Annamayya refers to this episode when he says that Alamelmanga's anger is quenched.

 Any comments and suggestions that help in better understanding of this poem are highly appreciated.

References:

[1]http://www.hithokthi.com/showthread.php/6725-Annamacharya-Keerthana-Lyrics-in-Telugu/page68
[2] http://www.sangeetasudha.org/annamacharya/vol4/a1.html

[3] www.andhrabharati.com/dictionary

jagadapu chanuvula

This is yet another marriage or wedding songs characterized by the use of the word "jaajara" meaning play at the end of each stanza."jaajara" forms the theme of this song where in Annamayya describes the playful acts the bride's friends play to tease the groom. In this song, needless to say, the groom is Venkatapathi while the bride is not specified and so could be one of Venkatesha's two consorts/spouses.

I found a very sweet video of a mother(Sarala garu) singing this song on phone with no music(not even shruthi box) but with a great voice, music sense and diction. I cannot help but provide that link here for two reasons, I loved the great intention with which she was singing and also her pronunciation is just right.
The rendition of this song by Priya sisters can be found here.

జగడపు జనవుల జాజర |
సగివల మంచపు జాజర ||
jagaDapu janavula jaajara |
sagivala maMchapu jaajara ||
Word-word:
జగడపుjagadapu= of fights; జనవులchanavulu=affection; జాజరjaajara=enactment/maya/illusion |
సగినలsaginala= squeaks from dolls; మంచపుmanchapu= of the cot/platform; జాజరjaajara= play/ enactment ||
Meaning:
of fights of affection is this enactment/play
squeaking platform is this enactment
Discussion:
Annamayya describes "jaajara" as acts of teasing and play. Referring to that Annamayya says that this game/ play is an enactment of affectionate fights that causes squeaking of cots :). In all, the whole play and the commotion surrounding it seems pretentious/ enactment, hence the word "jaajara" has a tinge of negativity, according to me.

మొల్లలు దురుముల ముడిచిన బరువున |
మొల్లపు సరసపు మురిపెమున |
జల్లన బుప్పొడి జాగర బతిపై |
చల్లే రతివలు జాజర ||
mollalu durumula muDichina baruvuna |
mollapu sarasapu muripemuna |
jallana buppoDi jaagara batipai |
challae rativalu jaajara ||

Word-Word:
మొల్లలుmollalu= jasmine; తురుములthurumula=tied as bun; ముడిచినmudichina= faded/tied; బరువునbaruvuna= heavy weight;
మొల్లపుmollapu= of the jasmine; సరసపుsarasapu=charming/elegant; మురిపెమునmuripemuna = exultation out of pride;
జల్లనchallana= cool; బుప్పొడిpuppodi(puppi+podi)=(flower+powder) pollen from flowers; జాగరjaagara= cautious; బతిpathi= Husband/Lord;పైpai=on;
చల్లేchalle= spread/threw; రతివలుrathivalu= lovely ladies; జాజర ||
Meaning:
Jasmine bent down the hair-bun by heavyweight
of those jasmine, charms and joy of pride
as cool pollen on the cautious Lord
threw/spread by lovely ladies as the enactment/play
Discussion:
Jasmines tied down the hair-bun with their heavy weight. Amidst jasmine-like elegance and exultation of the bride, the pollen from the flowers fell on the husband. Taking this chance/cue, the women threw pollen/flowers on the cautious husband/groom as a play.

భారపు కుచముల పైపైగడు సిం- |
గారము నెరపెటి గంధవొడి |
చేరువ పతిపై చిందగ బడతులు |
సారెకు జల్లేరు జాజర ||
bhaarapu kuchamula paipaigaDu siM- |
gaaramu nerapeTi gaMdhavoDi |
chaeruva patipai chiMdaga baDatulu |
saareku jallaeru jaajara ||

Word-Word:
భారపుbharapu= heavy; కుచములkuchamula= of the breast/bosom; పైపైpaipai= superficially, on the exterior; గడుgadu=great/much;సింగారముsingaramu= with beauty/embellishment; నెరపెటిnerapeti= spread; గంధవొడిgandhavodi (gandhapu+podi)=sandalwood +powder;
చేరువcheruva=close/near; పతిpathi= husband;పైpai= on; చిందగchindaga= sprinkle; బడతులుpaDathulu = women
సారెకుsaareku=frequently/ gifts and presents a bride carries from her maternal home; జల్లేరుchalleru= to scatter; జాజర ||
Meaning:
on the Heavy bosom exterior, great
embellishment was spread by sandal powder
on close/near husband/Lord sprinkled, the women
as gifts scattered (more powder), as play
Discussion:
As sandal powder on the exterior of the bosom spread beauty for the lady/bride. Some powder sprinkled on the nearby groom. Noticing that, the women as play scattered more sandal powder on the husband/groom as if it were a gift from the bride's maternal home.
"Saare" is a cultural ritual where in the bride's maternal home send gifts (usually food items).
I am not completely sure I understand the first two lines, honestly. I suspect Annamayya is probably referring to a ritual prevalent at that time, in which the bosom of a woman is embellished with sandal powder OR it could be an indirect reference to sandal powder that has sprinkled from either the chin-throat region where sandal paste is applied to women.  I would appreciate if a knowledgeable person can explain this more clearly.

బింకపు గూటమి పెనగేటి చమటల |
పంకపు పూతలపరిమళము |
వేంకటపతిపై వెలదులు నించేరు |
సంకుమదంబుల జాజర ||
biMkapu gooTami penagaeTi chamaTala |
paMkapu pootala parimaLamu |
vaeMkaTapatipai veladulu niMchaeru |
saMkumadaMbula jaajara ||
Word-Word:
బింకపుbinkapu= pride; కూటమిkooTami=union/association; పెనగేటిpenageti= that which is twisted/wrangled; చమటలchamatala= sweat;|
పంకపుpankapu= graceful; పూతలpoothala= blossoms;పరిమళముparimalamu= good smell;
వేంకటపతిVenkatapathi= Venkata's Lord; పైpai=on; వెలదులుveladulu= women; నించేరు=filled; సంకుమదంబులsankumadamulu= civet; జాజర ||
Meaning:
As the proud union wrangled in sweat
of the graceful blossoms scent
on Venkata's Lord the women filled
civet as play...
Discussion:
As the union of the bride and the groom resulted in a scent of sweat mixed with the floral blossoms, the women filled/sprinkled Venkatapathi(the groom) with civet/perfume as a play.

Any comments and suggestions that help in better understanding of this poem are appreciated.

References:
[1] http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/10/54jagadapu-chanuvula-jajara.html
[2] http://www.andhrabharati.com/dictionary/
[3] Telugu to English dictionary by Paluri Shankaranarayana
[4]http://www.sangeetasudha.org/annamacharya/vol5/anna29.html