Alluri Sri Venkatadri Swamigal (1806-1877)

An article by 

Sri S.A.R. Prasanna Venkatachariar Chaturvedi Swami

Founder / Managing Trustee, Sri Bhashyakara Charitable Trust, Chennai

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Indian musical heritage

Saint Sri Annamacharya

Saint Sri Thyagayya

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.

Alluri Sri 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.

Bhadrachalam Sri Ramaswamy

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

Sri Parthasarathy Swamy (Triplicane)

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'.

Sri Varadaraja Swamy (Kanchipuram)

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 Ranganatha Swamy (Srirangam)

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.

Pandya Crown of Sri Ranganatha Swamy

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/.

Sri Ranganatha Swamy adorning the Pandya Crown

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).

• 

  Sri Sthalasayana Perumal Temple

  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

Alluri Sri Venkatadri Swami (Jeeyar)

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.

Thiruvarasu at Alavandhar Padithurai

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 28^th 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 are 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. He is different from other composers, for he has never mentioned or hinted his name in any of his songs. This strongly validates the domination of divine instigation and immanence in his melodies.

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'