Annamacharya
Om Namo Narayanaya Annamacharya (also called Annamayya) was a 15th-century saint and is the earliest known musician to compose songs called Sankirtanas in praise of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati. He is the first known composer in Carnatic music. The musical form of the keertana songs that he composed are still popular among Carnatic music concert artists, and have strongly influenced the structure of Carnatic music compositions. He is widely regarded as the "Telugu Pada Kavita Pitamaha". Annamacharya was born on Vaisakha Suddha Pournami in the year Sarwadhari (May 22, 1408) in Tallapaka, Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. I t is said that desiring a male child, the parents of Annamayya went on pilgrimage to the shrine of Venkateswara on top of the hill Venkatadri and met with an unusual experience. Within the precincts of the temple they saw in a vision, the ‘nandaka’ sword, and in due course were blessed with a son in answer to their prayers. The story about the my...