Alluri Venkatadri Swamigal (1806-1877)
Indian musical heritage
Bharat has a
glorious historical record of several sages, saints and scholars. They were
blessed with unique wisdom and embroidered with different modes of approach to
divinity. Some resorted to learning and realization, some through penances and
there were diverse schools of philosophical pursuit. The greatest and best
among them were those who realized and relished the supreme through devotion
and music, and engineered the same sense in society. They encapsulated the
purport and purpose of scriptural learning and ritual labour in their simple,
sweet and soul-stirring compositions, which were impulsive outpourings of
craving and grace. These melodies have
the ability to empower the soul and enrich our ecstasy by extending divine
intimacy, and are entirely dissimilar to scholarly musical treats and prosaic
imitative works. Poetic compositions of saints like Tulsidas and Alwars of the
south, also electrified the social aura through musical discourses and
recitations.
In this
musico-spiritual lineage, we can find the unison of cultures and languages in
promoting piety, charity and harmony, through music. Immortal songs of musical
saints like Kabirdas, Meera, Sant Tukkaram and Ravidas in the north and
Annamacharya, Kshethrajna, Thiagaraja Swamy, Bhadrachala Ramadoss and Shyama
Sastri in the south remain as sources of solace and bliss, over centuries.
Alluri Venkatadri Swami
Similar to
musical trinity of Tamilnadu- Sri Thyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Sri
Shyama Sastri, Andhra kingdom also has its illustrious counterpart- Talappakkam
Annamacharya, Bhadrachalam Ramadasa and Alluri Venkatadri Swami.
The great
and less popularized Alluri Venkatadri Swami was born as Venkatadri, to the
blessed couple Sri Venkaiyya and Srimathi Venkamma, in the prestigious
Bharadwaja gotra, in Uttara Phalguni (Uttara) star, on the auspicious occasion
of full moon day of Phalguna (Panguni) month in the Akshaya year (1806), at a
village called Alluru in the Jajuru Paradala taluk of Krishna district of
Andhra Pradesh, into the clan of ‘Aruvelaniyogi’.
Acharya’s Blessings in infancy
As a person,
who was blessed even in his mother’s womb, Sri Venkatadri was found to immerse
himself in the service of Sri Narasimha Swamy of that village, often oblivious of
himself and his surroundings. Seeing their son being a scholar in all the shastras
and stotras, even without a formal education, his parents knew that there was
divine grace with their son and were extremely happy. When he was silently
craving for a Guru who would lead him properly into the highest echelons of
devotion and unconditional surrender, a mahatma by name Dhumu Narasimha Dasa
came to him, initiated him into the Taraka mantra and put him in the path of
Hari Nama Sankeertan.
Divya Desa Yatra
Unlike
conventional sages and monks who submerged into arduous exercises like
isolation in forests and austerities of ‘silence, deep penance and solitude’,
Sri Venkatadri Swamy had a strong yearning to uplift simple and suffering
community by influence of his compassion, divine love and holy music. Reflecting
the prime motive of “involvement and service to divya desams and archavatharas”
(temples and deity forms), of Sri Vaishnava tradition, he was continuously
engaged in visiting temples and unconditionally singing the glory of the Lord.
With the
desire to rejoice the radiance of Sri Rama, Sri Venkatadri went to Bhadrachala
and stayed for five years immersing himself in Hari Nama Sankeerthan. The
collective auspiciousness of divine abode, sacred Godavari and devout
association inspired Swami to inscribe one crore Rama namas and shower numerous
keerthans in glory of Rama. His love was so dynamic that it stirred Sri Rama
himself to appear in Swami’s subconscious vision to appreciate his merits. He
proceeded to Thirumala, on the Bagulasapthami day of the month of Chithra in
the year of Dharana (1824) and engrossed himself in floral service for a few
years, along with his Divyanama Sankeerthans.
It is true
that Sri Venkatadri was in the list of ‘most wanted devotees’ of Sri Hari,
which is evident from the directives he received from divya desam perumals, who
competed with each other in bringing him to their custody, and rejoicing his
music and rich unalloyed services. That is how he was summoned by Sri Kanchi
Devaraja perumal to appear at Kanchi, while serving at Thirumala.
Kanchipuram
visit was source of grand transformation in his life. Sri Varadaraja induced
Venkatadri Swami’s ecstatic buds by His gracious appearance in the temple, with
His consorts, Sri and Bhu devis, accompanied by devotees and scholars. An overwhelmed Swami started dancing escorted
by his magnificent songs such as ‘Jaya Jaladhara Shyama’.
As common in
hagiography of divine delegates, Sri Venkatadri swami’s life was also full of
miraculous experiences. One day, when he
was gathering flowers from the garden , a snake bit him on his leg. Without any
anxiety, he calmly went with a smiling face to the Sannidhi of Sri Devaraja and
sang Keerthans like ‘Kaapaadaraa Nannu’ and finally fainted and became inert, near
the Dhwajastambha, due to the effect of the poison. After sometime he got up as
if from sleep, went to the Devaraja
Sannidhi, took Prasad and went on with his routine duties of singing and
service, without any let to the kainkaryas.
Services
Amidst artists and religious heads, those who
sacrificed their divinity and dignity for the sake of royal patronage, few
saints like Sri Thyagaraja preferred ‘devotional royalty’ and ‘paucity in
mundane life’. Sri Venkatadri swami is
unique, distinguishable from both the communities, for he literally lived in bhiksha(alms) but
his contributions were unimaginable to even affluent landlords, merchants and
kings of that period.
It is
obvious that the Lord himself, who was displeased with offerings heaped by
egoistic and self-centric persons, was avaricious of owning the stainless and
lively offerings of Sri Venkatadri Swami and hence demanded him to offer
valuables, beyond his reach. Sri Swami
never thought about his limitations and staunchly believed in the infallible
grace of Almighty in empowering him to act as a tool for executing His wish and
order. He readily executed them with fullest zeal and vigorous trials.
Srimannarayana also had a secret agenda of
glorifying Swami, who was otherwise very humble and fame-phobic.
He, who considered wealth as a tinsel and
evil, started accepting donations from devotees and with that money, he started
doing simple services that ended in herculean contributions.
·
Starting
with pushpa kainkarya(floral services), he went on to offer fragrant sandalwood
paste and created a foundation to offer boiled milk to the lord on a daily
basis. Being apprehensive about possible issues of delay, quality deficit and
devotion deficit in offerings, Swami personally submitted them with utmost love
and devotion, staying in the room on the banks of Brahmatheertha pond by the
side of Senai mudhaliar Sannidhi in Kanchipuram, which is even now remembered
as Sri Venkatadri room.
·
He
also undertook renovation works in divya desams of Kanchi. His most remarkable contributions are Vilakkoli
perumal Sannidhi mandapam and gopuram works.
·
As
an ardent promoter of Vedic education, he made a permanent charity for
Vedaabhyasa of children, by the income generated from lands he purchased from
his collections.
·
He
bought a land in Doosi Mamandoor for 5000 rs, which was a very huge sum on
those days, and offered it for ensuring the purpose of the endowments commenced
by him.
Chennai Arrival
The merciful and mischievous Sri Varadaraja
appeared in Swami’s dreams and ordained him to offer a diamond crown. On the
Navami day of Vaisaka month in Manmata year(1835), he arrived at the Chennai
city in search of resources for his diamond crown project. Chennai tested his determination by providing
maximum hardships as the metropolitan society clouded by fashion and wealth
race, failed to understand the greatness of a super god-man, interacting with
God himself. This recognition-shortage is also due to his non-charismatic, torn
and puny personality, and his immaterial properties of tears in eyes, and
tampura and taala in both hands that all served as deceptive curtains to his spiritual majesty
and elegance. He reached Triplicane took bath in Kairavani and sang ‘Parthasarathy
pada bhajana cheyave manasa’ offering it to the Lord Parthasarathy. He was
hosted by Sri Solasimhapuram Seshacharya, a priest of Parthasarathy temple.
His
resplendence was felt by blessed persons, who volunteered their offerings for
the diamond crown. The priest himself offered RS 500 and Sri Venkatrangam
Pillai of Kanchi contributed 9.5 tulas of pure gold.
Sri Parthasarathy, fervent in getting the
merits of noble service, assisted Sri Venkatadri swami in collection process by
instructing temple trustees, Zamindar
Marudamuthu Mudaliyar and Dwibhashi Pachaiappa Mudaliar, and a wealthy
philanthropist Aranga Pillai in their
dreams, to contribute for the cause. Accordingly they gave Rs. 1,000, Rs. 1,500 and
Rs 1000 respectively.
Diamond crown for Varada
As per
divine plan, swifter than the progress of diamond crown venture, the fame of
Swamigal spread throughout Chennai. After completion, the crown that was
ceremoniously taken, with due reverence, through the streets of Chennai,
reached Kanchi with umbrella, flag and
traditional musical treat, in the accompaniment of countless devotees. During
the Garuda Seva on the full moon of Vaisaka Month in Kalayukthi(1858) year, the
crown was adorned on Sri Varadaraja. The
grandeur of Garuda seva was further intensified by Swami’s ecstatic dance and
mellifluous kritis on Sri Varada like ‘nigama gochara sowri’ and ‘pakshi vagana
nannu’.
Even today
this crown, designated after the donor as ‘Sri Venkatadri crown’, adorns the
Lord as the jewel of jewels. The same
night, the impatient divine consorts of the Lord, Sridevi and Bhudevi, appeared
in his dream and wanted crowns for them also. With their grace, Sri Venkatadri
swami accomplished the task with utmost ease and soon Kanchi visualized the
gorgeous procession of Lord and His consorts, embellished with precious and
pure diamond crowns.
Sri
Devaraja, Lord of celestials, wished that this devotee, endowed with inherent
fragrance should be brought under the rules and systems of traditional lineage
so as to endorse his culmination with Acharya Angeekaara-acceptance of the
preceptors’ clan and also to enrich the authenticity of traditional order by
enrolling such exemplary authorities. He appeared in Swami’s dream and ordered him to take up
‘pancha samskaras’, the qualifying five-fold initiation process in Sri
Vaishnava tradition. Accordingly, he went to Sri Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar of
Kanchi and took up ‘samaasrayanam’(pancha samskaras)
Thiruvaranga Yatra
Sri
Namperumal of Srirangam, desired to have our Swami’s
association and service, ordered our
Swami in his dream to replace the earlier precious and royal Pandian crown that
was damaged, with a new one. Praying Sri Varadaraja for divine help, he made a
model crown, without having any idea of the measurements and reached Srirangam.
After bath in northern Thirukkaveri, he
went to the temple, ceremoniously received by Kovilannan, Bhattarswami, Uttama
Nambi and other temple authorities. Sri Swami offered his musical tributes on Namperumal
and Periya perumal. ‘Ninnu koriyunna
raara’ is one such song among his popular musical showers on Srirangam. The
model crown which he made perfectly suited Sri Namperumal and this incident
highlighted the glory of Sri Venkatadri swami to all Srirangam authorities and
residents.
Pandian Crown and Hari Leela
Vehemently involved
in the Pandian crown making, he took up a vow that he will starve if he does
not get a minimum collection of Rs.10/-
every day. On occasions when there was no collection, his ardent devotees like
‘Dare House’ Venkataswamy Naidu , Puducherry Appaswamy Naidu , came forward and
gave Rs.10/-. As funds kept gathering, the work on the Pandya Crown also
progressed.
A one inch
square emerald stone was required for decorating the crown. When Swami was
intensely striving to get the same, Lord
appeared in his dream and revealed that the emerald needed is in the northern
corner iron safe, in the residence of one diamond merchant of Kolkata by name Madhava
Seth. Kaasidas Sowcar, Swami’s devotee immediately wrote an appeal to Madhava
Seth, when Lord ordered Sri Venkatadri swami to send the dream message to Sri.
Madhava Seth. Madhava Seth was surprised when he found the emerald as told,
which was kept by his father without the knowledge of even his family members,
and sent it to Chennai along with his contribution of Rs.1, 000/.
The greedy goldsmith
who was on the job of making the crown, replaced the emerald with an ordinary
stone. The Lord appeared in Swami’s dream and exposed the mischief. Swami then
took his disciples to the goldsmith, who initially refused and when he was
manhandled by Appasamy Raju, a devotee of Sri Venkatadri swami, gave the
emerald back with apologies.
The real
emerald was replaced and Pandya crown was thus completed and taken to
Thiruvarangam with his disciples. After the ceremonial procession around the
temple, it was offered to Namperumal on the auspicious occasion of Paramapatha
Ekadasi of Margazhi month in the year of Rudrodkari(1863). Even today we can
see this crown adorning the Lord on all prime occasions.
Other Kainkaryas
·
As
the Lord again ordered in the dream of Swamigal, Makara Kandiga was made with
the help of some affluent Chennaiites and offered to the Lord during the month
of Aavani in the next Prabhava year(1867).
·
A
golden Vimana with five peaks to Nellore Sri Ranganatha Temple
·
Renovation
in the temples of Thirukkadal Mallai Sthalasayana Perumal sannadhi and
Thiruvidavendai Thayar and Aandal Sannidhis.
·
As
old age took over him, Swami made Srirangam his base and restricted his
activities to ‘offering sandal paste’ by self-grinding, gathering perfumes, and offerings like atirasa,
vada, surulamudu, paalamudu.
·
A
scheme was also systematized to offer ‘aravana’ Prasadam, daily to Sriranga
Nachiar
·
To
ensure that these were continued without hindrance, he purchased wetlands to an
extent of 25.35 acres and dry land to an extent of 2 manas at a cost of
Rs.5,050/- in the Thirupparaithurai Village. The edict on this event is
available in front of the Dhwajastambha(holy pillar) in the temple.
·
Subsequently
Majestic Crown and Divine Jewels were made by Swami for the Goddess Ranga
Nachiar. When the work on the crown was going on slowly, a Mahatma by name Govardhanam
Rangachariar came to Sri Rangam with his disciples, to envision the propitious
event of Lord arriving at the abode of the Goddess. When he was requested to
help in the task, he agreed and accordingly sent a crown in a few months time.
·
Somacchanda
Vimana work at Thirumaaliruncholai, near Madurai and other Pandiya naadu
divyadesam works.
Renunciation
Swami, a complete soul, spent his
lifetime in absolute austerity and assumed ‘Sanyasa’ renounced order at his
ripe old age of 72, in the month of Thai in the year of Rakthaakshi (1864)by
accepting the additional gadgets-conventional ochre robes and triple staff (Kaashayam
and Tridandam) from Sri Ranga Narayana Jeeyar and came to be known as Thiru
Venkata Ramanuja Jeeyar. By renunciation of such a detached and dedicated
personality, the mendicant order itself got sanctified and invigourated.
He lived
with his service motive and never bothered about any second element. High officials, rich traders and great
scholars were astonished to see the simple and silent person behind incredible
service records. Many dignitaries and
celebrities surrendered to Swami’s love, lore and luster and one among his
illustrious visitors was Lord Francis Napier( 1866-1872), then Governor of
Chennai who learnt about the greatness of Swamigal and paid him a reverential
visit, when he came to Trichy. Swami never minded great visitors and was simply
absorbed in his musical and service moods, always surrounded by spiritual
literates.
Salvation
While Swami
was incessantly preoccupied in Namperumal Kainkaryam, his parallel thirst for
eternal service made him to strongly demand Sri Ranganatha’s lotus feet. The equally enthusiastic Lord appeared in his
dream and gave him the time and date of his Divine communion, which he
gleefully informed to his disciples and temple authorities.
Consequently,
in Dhatu year (1877) on the midnight of Monday, during the Maasi Saptami tithi,
while chanting the Divine Ashtakshari
Mantra, a divine light emanated from his head and he attained the Lotus feet of
the Lord. His divine form was befittingly decorated and given due respects and
rites fit for a Mahatma, by the Thiruvarangam temple authorities. Even today,
on his memorial day, his offerings are sent to his Brindavana(abode of his
final rest) and brought back after the ceremonies.
His memorial
is established on the banks of Aalavandhar Padithurai of Cauvery. Centennial
celebrations of his salvation year(1877-1977) were organized with rich musical
and spiritual splendor, on the 28th day of Magha month in the Nala
year(11-3-77) by thousands of devotees belonging to Alluri Venkatadri bhajana
mandalis.
Action Plan
Sri
Venkatadri swami is the only person available with all vibrant traits of a saint
(Jeeyar swamy), composer-singer (vaggeyakaara), devotee and contributor par
excellence (bhaktottama and kainkarya para) put together. He is the best role
model for all votaries, aspirants and beginners His life history portraits
Supreme’s craze and love for his genuine devotees rather than vice versa. His
songs were free from imagination, ostentatious vocabulary, complex prosody and
technical superfluity. Yet, they had the power to demand and command Sriman
Narayana to shower his mercy and grace.
In the fame
traffic, congested by unworthy and silly elements, venerable personalities like
Sri Alluri Venkatadri Swami should be suitably propagandized through all
positive channels. For this righteous
cause, Sri Bhashyakara Charitable Trust has started “Alluri Venkatadri Samkeertana
project” with the following proposals.
·
Swami
has rendered countless compositions out of which, mere verses for 123 songs have been published without
corresponding musical notes. So, immediately musical alignment for all of the available
songs should be initiated along with the hunt for rare and unpublished
compositions.
·
Sri
Alluri Swami’s compositions should be transliterated in all needed languages
with meaning and descriptions.
·
His
songs are being rendered only as chorus songs in Bhajan models. Moreover, due
to lack of proper training, pronunciation errors ,omissions, text errors and
violations of musical rules and order, are very obvious in modern
presentations. While respecting the devotion and sincerity aspects of the
singers, proper attention and orderliness should be brought in musical and
textual dimensions also. Hence a well
equipped musical training school should be established in the name of Alluri
Venkatadri Swami.
·
Parallel
to Bhajan tradition, Venkatadri Keertanas should be brought out in Classical
music form also.
·
All
Bhajan mandalis should be integrated as a single, strong Sri Venkatadri seva
Samithi, which should indulge in all forms of social and devotional services
,apart from their musical delight.
·
Every
year, birth and memorial celebrations of Sri Alluri Swami should be celebrated
in a more organized and Impactful way, at Allur and Srirangam respectively.
·
Awards
in the name of Sri Venkatadri Swami should be given to great Sri Vaishnavite
musicians on all Sri Venkatadri birth
and memorial anniversary occasions.
·
To
release the CDs of Sri Venkatadri songs with perfect rendering and
orchestration, and to broadcast the same on all personal functions, temple
festivals and gatherings.
·
An
exhaustive website of Sri Alluri Swami should be launched with biography, songs
and photo-video galleries.
·
Descriptive
life sketch of Sri Alluri Swami should be brought in the forms of Teleserials, drama,
animation, storybooks, musical discourse and folk arts like villupattu. This
will universalize the repute of our legendary ’Sri Alluri Swami’ as well as
nourish and motivate the modern society towards the sublime pathways of
simplicity, devotion and relentless service , with the inspirational grace of ‘Sri Alluri Venkatadri Swami’
Sri Varadan Chandar
Trustee
Sri Bhasyakara Charitable Trust,
No: 33 Mahalingapuram Main Road
Nungambakkam
Chennai-34.
Phone: 044-43081015
sriramanujamissiontrust@gmail.com
