Khammam | People | Bhadrachala Ramadasu


Kancherla Gopanna (c 1620 - 1680 CE), popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu(Telugu: భద్రాచల రామదాసు), was a 17th century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He lived in the village of Nelakondapalli near Bhadrachalam, Andhra Pradesh during the 17th century and is renowned for constructing a famous temple for Rama at Bhadrachalam. His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous in Andhra Pradesh as Ramadaasu Keertanalu.
Many of Ramadasus's compositions are exceptionally emotional and endearing. It is said that the Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu loved his keertanas and took great interest in popularizing them. Ramadasu composed in the Keertana format, a precursor to the Kritis. The great composer Tyagaraja admired Ramadasu's compositions and praised him in some of his compositions. Ramadasu perused many mudras (Signature) such as Bhadrachala, Bhadradri and Bhadragiri in his compositions. Some of his popular compositions are Emayyarama (Raga Kambhoji), Rama dayajudave (Raga Dhanyasi), Paluke bangara mayena (Raga Anandabhairavi) and Nannubrovu (Raga Kalyani). Listed below are some of his great Sankeerthanas(songs) composed on Lord Rama: