Tandanana Ahi Tandananapure

Pallavi: Tandanana Ahi Tandananapure

Tandanana bhala Tandanana

Brahmamokkate Parabrahmamokkate

Parabrahmamokkate Parabrahmamokkate II

Charanam I : Kanduvagu heenadhikamuhndu levu

Andhariki Sreehare Antaratma

Indulo jantukulaminta Okate

Andariki Sreehare Antaratma ll

Charanam II: Nindara raju nidrinchu nidrayu nokate

Andane bantunidra adiyunokate

Mendaina Brahmanudu mettu bhoomi okate

Chaudalu dundeti sari bhoomi okate II

Charanam III: Anugudevatalakunu ala kama sukhamokate

Ghanakeeta pashuvulaku kama sukhamokate

Dinamahoratramulu tesi dhana dhyunakokate

Onaranirupedakunu vokkate aviyu II

Charanam 4: Korali Shishtannamulu gonunalukokate

Tirusu dushtanyamulu tinu nalukokate

Paragu durgandhamula pai vayuvokate

Varusa Parimalamu Pai Vayovokate II

Charanam 5: Kadagi Yenugu meeda Kayo yendokate

Pudami Shoriakamu Meeda polayu yendokate

Kadu Punyulanu papa karmulanu sarigaud

Jadiyu Sree Venkateswara Namamokate II

Content: A philosophical folksong called "Tandana padam" preachs equality among

all the individuals.

Background : St. Annamacharya condemned the differences of caste and creed. He

adopted a folk-form; "Tandana Padam" which is sung with a folk

instrument called "Dappu" to propagate the Truth of equality of all human

beings. Meaning:

Pallavi: "Tandanana" is a word giving the punch of rhythm in the song. Ahi, Pure, Bhala are the

words expressing the excitement or ecstasy or appreciation. The absolute spirit is one & only

one.

I Stanza: There are no differences of low & high. "Srihari" (A name of Vishnu. Vishnu is the

form of God who is in charge of maintenance, protection of the good & destruction of the bad. In

this context, Srihari is the Supreme Spirit) is the indwelling Spirit to one and all. All the beings

in creation are one because the indwelling spirit in every creature is one and the same.

II Stanza: Sleep is same to all, be it a king or a servant. Be it a "Brahmin" (man of the highest

caste) or "Chandala" (man of the lowest caste), the earth they live on is the one and the same.

III Stanza: The sexual pleasure is one and the same either for angels or for the insects and

animals. The day and night are equal to the rich as well as to the poor.

IVStanza : One could afford to eat tasty food and the other the condemned food. But the tongues

that taste the food are alike. An object of fragrance or an object of foul smell, the air that carries

the smell is one and the same.

VStanza : Be it an elephant or a dog, the sun shines alike on both of them. For the good and the

bad, Lord Venkateshwara alone is "The Savior". DR. SHOBARAJU