Annamayya's poetry has survived through centuries for a reason, savoring it "as it is" without hypocrisy is important. While times have changed and it no more is the case, and rather the opposite, it is important for us to take a step back and take poetry as it is and appreciate the cultural differences. It was OK to refer to woman's breast and reference to their movement is more a romantic thing. This gives us a peek into the cultural references at that time. "for each snap and word, you get frightened just stop, and go dear cousin(boyfriend)Īnnamayya's poetry especially the romantic songs, have atleast one reference to moving bosom/breast. "Heavy bosom as moved, you move gracefully honey-talking cousin/girlfriend
చీటికిcheetiki=for each snap మాటికిmaaTiki=for each word జెనకేవేjankaevu=you get frightened/scared వట్టిvatti= just బూటకాలుbooTakaalu=fake (things) మానిపోవేmaanipove(maanu+po+ve)=(stop+go+dear) బావbaava= cousin/boyfriend
గాటపు=heavy గుబ్బలుgubbalu= bosom గదలగkadalaga= as moved గులికేవుkulikevu=to move gracefully మాటలmaatala= of words దేటలteTalu=cob(like honey comb) మరదలాmaradala= cousin/girlfriend| The boy is teasing his girlfriend as to whats up, and she is reacting by saying that she has had enough of dalliance(amourous play) with him. In this context, Annamayya is presenting a dialogue between a boy and his girlfriend/cousin. Maradala and Bava refer to cousins ( feminine and masculine forms respectively). |ఏలేaele = what?యేలేyele= whats up? మరదలాmaradala=pateral aunt's or maternal uncle's daughter చాలుchaalu=enough జాలు chalu= enough చాలునుchalunu= enough చాలుchaalu= enough నీnee=you తోడిthodi= along with సరసంబుsarasambu=dalliance బావbaava= paternal aunt's or maternal uncles' sonĪlong with you this dalliance, cousin/boyfriend" For now, I am going to translate this as it is and not delve deeper or give it all away. There is much to this poem especially the finer romantic aspects, and I leave it to the discretion of the reader to savor it as much as they can take. The poetic content, sans the sublimal perception, is in itself is a deep ocean to delve. Annamayya is referring to such an encounter, with much deeper meaning. This cousin relationship is an amorous dalliance for adolescents.
In olden times, these were the quick fix marriages that were almost decided upon birth of children. As for my translation, I would have only the exoteric explanation.Ĭulturally, in India, specifically South India, maternal/paternal uncles/aunt's children by relationship can be married. I leave it to the discretion of the reader to either savor the poetic flavor or/ and engross on the deep spiritual connotation to this song. One perception is to look at sublimal aspect that brings forth a dialogue between the entanglement of wordly pleasures and spiritual endeavor. This song is another of the sringara rasa/love songs from Annamayya in a dialogue format between two cousins who are also in a relationship(boyfriend-girlfriend). This has been my inspiration to create this blog to give my two cents (paisa/penny etc.) worth as I am fortunate and have been complacent of being part of the Indian culture by birth and growing up in it. I was fortunate to have met people early during the inception of this blog, who had actually dedicated their life to Indian arts. As I already mentioned in "About this blog" section, I really commend and respect the enthusiasm and passion of non-Indian origin people to not only understand the language and culture of another country, but also endeavor to translate it to help others to savor Indian poetry, culture and spirituality. The goal of the reader was to translate this song to Russian language. I am translating this song specifically upon a request from a reader from Russia.