E kulajuDaina nEmi - ఏ కులజుడైన నేమి
E kulajuDainanEmi - ఏ కులజుడైననేమి | Annamayya Lyrics | Sankeertanalu | Songs | Telugu & English
This is another profound sankeertana by the 15th-century saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya. While many of his songs focus on sringara (divine romance) or pure praise, "E kulajuDainanEmi" belongs to his philosophical corpus (Vairagya Sankeertanalu).
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In this song, Annamayya makes a powerful, revolutionary statement about social equality, defining a "true devotee" not by their birth, caste, or social status, but by their virtues and their knowledge of the Divine.
Introduction
Tallapaka Annamacharya, revered as the Pada-kavita Pitamaha (Grandfather of Pada poetry), composed thousands of sankeertanas in praise of Lord Venkateswara. While deeply devotional, Annamayya was also a social reformer through his poetry. In the famous sankeertana "E kulajuDainanEmi," he challenges the rigid social hierarchy of his time.
He argues that a person's caste (kula) or lineage is irrelevant to their spiritual standing. He proclaims that the true knower of God (Hari) is anyone who possesses compassion, truthfulness, and unwavering devotion, regardless of where they come from. The song is a beautiful exposition on the universal nature of spirituality.
ఏ కులజుడైననేమి యెవ్వడైననేమి
ఆకడ నాతడె హరినెఱిగినవాడు
పరగిన సత్యసంపన్నుడైన వాడే
పరనిందసేయ దత్పరుడు గాని వాడు
అరుదైన భూతదయానిధి యగువాడే
పరులదానే యని భావించువాదు
నిర్మలుడై యాత్మనియతి గలుగువాడే
ధర్మతత్పరబుధ్ధి దలిగిన వాడు
కర్మమార్గములు తడవనివాడే
మర్మమై హరిభక్తి మఱవనివాడు
జగతి పై హితముగా జరియించువాడే
పగలేక మతిలోన బ్రదికినవాడు
తెగి సకలము నాత్మ దెలిసినవాడే
తగిలి వెంకటేశు దాసుడయినవాడు
E kulajuDainanEmi yevvaDainanEmi
AkaDa nAtaDe harine~riginavADu
paragina satyasampannuDaina vADE
paraniMdasEya datparuDu gAni vADu
arudaina bhUtadayAnidhi yaguvADE
paruladAnE yani bhAviMchuvAdu
nirmaluDai yAtmaniyati galuguvADE
dharmatatparabudhdhi daligina vADu
karmamArgamulu taDavanivADE
marmamai haribhakti ma~ravanivADu
jagati pai hitamugA jariyiMchuvADE
pagalEka matilOna bradikinavADu
tegi sakalamu nAtma delisinavADE
tagili veMkaTESu dAsuDayinavADu
Detailed Meaning in English
Here is a stanza-wise translation and interpretation of the sankeertana.
|| Pallavi ||
E kulajuDainanEmi yevvaDainanEmi
AkaDa nAtaDe harine~riginavADu
Meaning: What does it matter what caste they are born into? What does it matter who they are? He alone is the one who truly knows Lord Hari (God).
Interpretation: The refrain sets the core theme: birth status is irrelevant to spiritual realization.
|| Charanam 1 ||
paragina satyasampannuDaina vADE
paraniMdasEya datparuDu gAni vADu
arudaina bhUtadayAnidhi yaguvADE
paruladAnE yani bhAviMchuvAdu
Meaning: He who is inherently filled with the wealth of truthfulness; He who never indulges in blaming or speaking ill of others; He who is a rare treasure of compassion toward all living beings (bhuta-daya); He who considers others' pain and joy as his own.
Interpretation: Annamayya defines the first set of qualities of a realiz ed soul: truth, speaking no evil, compassion, and empathy.
|| Charanam 2 ||
nirmaluDai yAtmaniyati galuguvADE
dharmatatparabudhdhi daligina vADu
karmamArgamulu taDavanivADE
marmamai haribhakti ma~ravanivADu
Meaning: He who is pure in heart (nirmala) and possesses self-control over his senses (atmaniyati); He whose intellect is naturally inclined towards righteousness (dharma); He who does not get entangled in complex ritualistic paths (karma-marga); He who never forgets devotion to Lord Hari, holding it as his innermost secret (marma).
Interpretation: The second stanza lists internal virtues: purity, self-control, a rightful intellect, and unwavering, heartfelt devotion over mere rituals.
|| Charanam 3 ||
jagati pai hitamugA jariyiMchuvADE
pagalEka matilOna bradikinavADu
tegi sakalamu nAtma delisinavADE
tagili veMkaTESu dAsuDayinavADu
Meaning: He who conducts himself gracefully for the welfare of the world; He who lives his life without a trace of hatred (paga) or malice in his mind; He who has understood that everything is a manifestation of the Self (Atma); He who is deeply attached to and has become a true servant (dasa) of Lord Venkateswara.
Interpretation: The final stanza describes the devotee’s relationship with the world: working for global good, harboring no hatred, realizing universal oneness, and complete surrender to the Divine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
| What is the main theme of this song? | The main theme is spiritual equality. It states that devotion to God (Hari-bhakti) is universal and not restricted by caste, creed, or social status. A person’s character and virtues are the only true measure of their spiritual realization. |
| Who is considered a "true knower of Hari" according to Annamayya? | According to the song, a true knower of Hari is anyone who is truthful, compassionate, empathic, self-controlled, pure of heart, works for the welfare of the world, bears no malice, and is surrendered to Lord Venkateswara. |
| Why is this sankeertana considered revolutionary? | In the 15th century, Indian society was highly rigid and structured by the caste system. For Annamayya, a temple priest, to openly sing that caste is irrelevant to God was a courageous and revolutionary act promoting social harmony and humanism. |
| How does this song relate to modern times? | The message of equality, compassion, and ethical living remains incredibly relevant. The song serves as a reminder to look beyond superficial differences and value humanity and character. |
| Which Raaga is commonly used for this sankeertana? | It is commonly performed in raagas like Bhoopalam or Samantham, which evoke a sense of calmness, introspection, and philosophical depth. |