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

anni mantramulu...

This is a straight forward poem mentioning of about the different forms of Vishnu mantramu(chant) and how they came into existence due to their significance related to a devotee. Most of the poem needs little to no explanation.



అన్ని మంత్రములు ఇందె ఆవహించెను - వెన్నతో నాకు గలిగె వేంకటేశు మంత్రము
anni maMtramulu iMde aavahiMchenu - vennatO naaku galige vaeMkaTaeSu maMtramu
Word-word:
అన్నిanni= all; మంత్రములుmantramulu= chants; ఇందె inde= from this;ఆవహించెనుavahinchenu= to enter/possess; - వెన్నతో vennetho= with butter;నాకుnaaku= to me; గలిగెkalige= got,obtained; వేంకటేశుventateshu= Venkata's; మంత్రముmantramu= chant.
Meaning:
All the chants, from Him (only) came into existence;
With butter , to me, came, Venkatesha's chant.
Discussion:
The second line might mean that Annamayya learnt theVenkatesha's Chant from his childhood as young as when infants are fed butter, evn before feeding solid food. Apparently, his mother must have taught him Venkatesha's chant. Another possible reference(less likely) could be to that of for him chanting Vekatesha's name was as easy as eating butter.

నారదుడు జపియించె నారాయణ మంత్రము - చేరె ప్రహ్లాదుడు నారసింహ మంత్రము
కోరి విభీషణుడు చేకొనె రామ మంత్రము - వేరెనాకు గలిగె వేంకటేశు మంత్రము
naaraduDu japiyiMche naaraayaNa maMtramu - chaere prahlaaduDu naarasiMha maMtramu
kOri vibheeshaNuDu chaekone raama maMtramu - vaerenaaku galige vaeMkaTaeSu maMtramu
Word-Word:
 నారదుడుNaradudu= Narada; జపియించెjapinche= chanted; నారాయణNarayana= Narayana's; మంత్రము mantramu= chant;- చేరెchere= reached; ప్రహ్లాదుడుPrahladudu= Prahlada; నారసింహNarasinha= Narasimha, the man-lion form; మంత్రము mantramu=chant;కోరిkori= as wished; విభీషణుడు vibhishanudu= Vibhishana, Ravan's brother;చేకొనెchekone= obtained; రామrama= Rama; మంత్రము mantramu= chant;- వేరెvere= different;నాకుnaaku= to me; గలిగె kalige= obtained; వేంకటేశు Venkateshu = Venkatesha's; మంత్రముmantramu= chant.
Meaning:
Narada chanted Narayana chant, the Narsimha chant reached Prahlada.
As wished, Vibhishana obtained Rama's chant. To me differently came Venkatesha's chant.

రంగగు వాసుదేవ మంత్రము ధృవుండు జపించె - అంగవించె కృష్ణ మంత్రము అర్జునుడు
ముంగిట విష్ణు మంత్రము మొగిశుకుడు పఠించె - వింగడమై నాకు నబ్బె వేంకటేశు మంత్రము
raMgagu vaasudaeva maMtramu dhRvuMDu japiMche - aMgaviMche kRshNa maMtramu arjunuDu
muMgiTa vishNu maMtramu mogiSukuDu paThiMche - viMgaDamai naaku nabbe vaeMkaTaeSu maMtramu

Word-Word:

రంగగుrangagu= వాసుదేవvasudeva= Vasudeva; మంత్రముmantramu= chant; ధృవుండుDhruvudu= Dhruva; జపించెjapinche= chanted; - అంగవించెangavinche(anga+inchu)= (body part+became)to become as part(of body), possessed; కృష్ణKrishna= Krishna; మంత్రముmantramu= chant; అర్జునుడుarjunudu= Arjuna;
ముంగిటmungita= threshold, front-yard; విష్ణుVishnu= Vishnu's; మంత్రముmantramu= chant; మొగి= whole; శుకుడుShukudu=SHuka; పఠించెpathinche= read; - వింగడమైvingadamai= beautiful,separate/exclusive; నాకుnaaku= to me; aబ్బెabbe= to come into one's enjoyment reach; వేంకటేశుVenkateshu= Venkatesha's; మంత్రముmantramu= chant;
Meaning:
Vasudeva's chant was chanted by Druva, Arjuna was possessed( have become as part of body) by Krishna's chant.
On front yard, Vishnu's chant Shuka read; exclusively to me came within my joyful reach, Venkatesha's chant
Discussion:
We know of Dhruva, and  Arjuna. Shuka is a new character.Well, according to Wikipedia, Shuka was the son of Vyasa, the original narrator of Bhagavad Purana. Shuka was considered to have attained higher spiritual enlightenment than Vyasa himself. I am always taken by surprise by Annamayya's choice of references, characters, and ofcourse words.

కెల్ల ఇందిర;నాథుడె గుఱి - పన్నిన దిదియే పరబ్రహ్మ మంత్రము
నన్ను గావగలిగేబో నాకు గురుడియ్యగాను - వెన్నెల వంటిది శ్రీవేంకటేశు మంత్రము

inni maMtramula kella iMdiranaathuDe gu~ri - pannina didiyae parabrahma maMtramu
nannu gaavagaligaebO naaku guruDiyyagaanu - vennela vaMTidi SreevaeMkaTaeSu maMtramu
Word-Word

ఇన్నిinni= these many; మంత్రములmantramula= chants;కెల్ల=to all; ఇందిరIndira= Lotus;నాథుడెnathude= Lord,master; గుఱిGuri= target; పన్నినpannina=  schemed;దిదియేidiye= this only;పరబ్రహ్మparabrahma= supreme knowledge; మంత్రముmantramu= chant;
నన్నుnannu= to me; గావgaava= to protect;గలిగేkalige= that which contains;బో నాకుnaaku= to me; గురుడియ్యగానుgurudiyyaganu=Gurudu+iyyaganu=teacher+as given ;వెన్నెలVennela= Moonlight; వంటిదిvantidi= equivalent; శ్రీవేంకటేశు Sri Venkateshu= Sri Venkatesha's; మంత్రముmantramu= chant

Meaning:
With all, these (many) chants, (it seems) as if  The Lord of Lotus/Lakshmi, targeted as a scheme; this is the supreme knowledge giving chant.
To me, that can protect came to me as given by (my) teacher, equivalent to moonlight, is Venkatesha's chant.

References:
[1] Paluri ShankarNarayan, Telugu to English dictionary.
[2] lyrics from http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/09/12anni-mantramulu.html

Chaaladaa Hari nama

Annamayya describes the power of Hari's name. He uses different verbs, as usual, to describe the different ways Hari's name can be meditated upon. Chanting, listening, meditating/chanting in mind, possessing, and being conscious of Hari's name is enough to keep away the most dreaded pains at bay:).  The verbs describes in the previous line appear in that order in this keerthana. I am guessing Annamayya must have used these verbs based on their hierarchy in meditation. While chanting and listening are usually considered as lower levels of meditation.  Concentrating in mind, "being"/ possessing  are higher levels, and "consciousness" is the highest level of meditation. This is just an opinion and I could be wrong!  In the final stanza, he describes how blissful it is to be immersed in a Keerthana of the Lord Venkateswara  that just brings out the positivity and thinks it is the best to be at mercy of these poets who write keerthanas.

For Priya sisters' redition of the song click here.

చాలదా హరినామ సౌఖ్యామృతము తమకు చాలదా హితవైన చవులెల్లను నొసగ

chaaladaa harinaama saukhyaamRtamu tamaku chaaladaa hitavaina chavulellanu nosaga ..
Word-Word:
చాలదాChaaladaa= is it not enough? హరినామHari nama=Hari's name; సౌఖ్యామృతము Soukyamruthamu=(SOukya+amruthamu= happiness+elixir) the blissful elixir, తమకుthamaku= to you; చాలదాchaaladaa= is it not enough; హితవైనhithamaina= that which is beneficial/welfare; చవులెల్లనుchevulellanu= to all the ears;ఒసగosaga= to present/bestow;
Meaning:
Is the blissful elixir in Hari's name not enough for you?Is it not enough to be bestowed with the goodness to all the ears?
Discussion:
He says that chanting Hari's name is equivalent to the drinking sweet elixir.  Listening to Hari's name brings bliss to the ears. So he emphasizes on chanting and listening to Hari's name in this stanza.

ఇది యొకటి హరి నామ మింతైన జాలదా చెదరకీ జన్మముల చెరలు విడిపించ
మదినొకటె హరినామ మింతైన జాలదా పదివేల నరక కూపముల వెడలించ

idi yokaTi hari naama miMtaina jaaladaa chedarakee janmamula cheralu viDipiMcha

madinokaTe harinaama miMtaina jaaladaa padivaela naraka koopamula veDaliMcha

Word-word: 
ఇదిIdi= this; యొకటిOkati= one; హరి నామHari Nama= Hari's name; మింతైన inthaina= even this much; జాలదాchaladaa= not enough?; చెదరకీ chedarakee=(chedaraku+ee= to not spoil+ this); జన్మముల janmamula= these lives/rebirths; చెరలుcheralu= imprisonment; విడిపించvidipincha= to release;
మది madi= mind/heart;నొకటె okate  only one; హరినామ Hari nama= Hari's name; మింతైన Inthaina= even this;జాలదా chaaladaa= not enough??;పదివేల padi vela= ten thousand; నరకnaraka= hell; కూపములKoopamulu=pits/holes ; వెడలించvedalinchu= to drive awayfrom;
Meaning:
Just this one "Hari"'s name, is it not even enough to release from the imprisonment of the degrading lives(rebirths)?
To mind, only this one "Hari"'s name , is it not even enough  to drive away from the ten-thousand hells' pitfalls? ..
Discussion:
Hari's name is enough to release from the imprisonment of rebirths. It is believed that a living being takes rebirths based on karma until final salvation is realised. According to Annamayya, Hari's name (chanting in mind) would emancipate one from the pains of rebirths. If only the mind concentrated on Hari's name, it would drive away from the hell's pitfalls. It is believed that the hell has various pitfalls/holes; each supposed to impose a different pain.

కలదొకటి హరినామ కనకాద్రి చాలదా తొలగుమని దారిద్ర్యదోషంబు చెఱచ
తెలివొకటి హరినామదీప మది చాలదా కలుషంపు కఠిన చీకటి పారద్రోల

kaladokaTi harinaama kanakaadri chaaladaa tolagumani daaridryadOshaMbu che~racha

telivokaTi harinaamadeepa madi chaaladaa kalushaMpu kaThina cheekaTi parabola

Word-Word:
కలదొకటిKaladokati= (Kaladu+okati= to have+one) has one; హరినామHarinama= Hari's name; కనకాద్రిkanakadri= (Golden Hill); చాలదా chaalada= not enough?; తొలగుమనిtholagunami= to ask to end; దారిద్ర్యdaaridra= poverty;దోషంబుdooshambu= sin; చెఱచcheracha= to spoil/damage;
తెలివొకటిthelivokati=(thelivi+okati=conscious+one) consciousness of one; హరినామ Harinama= hari's name; దీపdeepa= light; మదిmadi= mind/heart; చాలదాchaalada= not enough??; కలుషంపుkalushambu=of impurity ; కఠినkathina= difficult; చీకటిcheekati= darkness; పారద్రోలpaaradroola= to  make to go away; 
Meaning:
To have just this one "Hari" 's name as the golden hill, is it not enough to end the sins of poverty by ruining (the sins).
To be conscious of just this Hari's name as light, is it not enough to drive away the impurity of difficult/stubborn darkness. ...
Discussion:
Hari's name is equivalent to a treasure of golden hill and if someone possess this treasure,  the sin of poverty can end easily.
The consciousness of Hari's name is the light that can drive away even stubborn darkness.
 
తగువేంకటేశు కీర్తనమొకటి చాలదా జగములో కల్ప భూజంబు వలెనుండ
సొగసి యీవిభుని దాసుల కరుణ చాలదా నగవు జూపులను నున్నతమెపుడు జూప

taguvaeMkaTaeSu keertanamokaTi chaaladaa jagamulO kalpa bhoojaMbu valenuMDa

sogasi yeevibhuni daasula karuNa chaaladaa nagavu joopulanu nunnatamepuDu joopa

Word-Word:

తగు thagu=deserving/worthy; వేంకటేశుvenkateshu=Venkatesha's; కీర్తనKeerthana= a poem in praise;మొకటి okkati= one;చాలదాchaaladaa= not enough??? జగములోjagamulo= in this world; కల్పKalpa= the wish-fulfilling tree; భూజంబుbhujambu= shoulder/arm; వలెనుండvale nunda= like it is;
సొగసిsogasi=beauty; యీee= this; విభునిvibhuni=Lord's/master's; దాసులdaasula= slaves / servants; కరుణkaruna= mercy; చాలదాchaaladaa= not enough; నగవుnagavu= smiling; జూపులనుchoopulanu= looks/sight; నున్నతమెపుడు(Unnathamu+eppudu)= the best/greatest+always; జూపchoopa= to show;
Meaning:
Just one poem in praise of the worthy Venkatesha is it not enough in this world as if a wish-fulfilling tree is in hand;
The mercy of the servants of this beautiful Lord, is this not enough to have smiling looks with the always best (thing) to show?
Discussion:
Annamayya says that just one keerthana(poem in parise) of the Lord is equivalent to having a wish fulfilling tree in hand. He then talks how the poets, the servants of Hari, are usually pleasant (smiling looks) and through their poems show the best( usually in praise of the Hari) to the world. He then says is it not enough to have their (poets) mercy and enjoy the positivity through these poems.