“Avakaya Anjaneya” by Sahithi Galidevara and Anudeep Dev opens with a hero gathering strength to shake a tree. From the album HanuMan, the song uses the process of making mango pickle to tell a story of divine power. Simhachalam Maneela’s lyrics, with Gowra Hari’s music, begin this unique folk tale.
Released: November 28, 2023
Avakaya Anjaneya
Anudeep Dev | Sahithi Galidevara • From “HanuMan”
Lyricist
Simhachalam Maneela
Composer
Gowra Hari
HanuMan’s Avakaya Anjaneya Lyrics Translation
The story assigns Hanuman’s abilities to specific recipe steps, making the ordinary seem miraculous. One line describes him taming an “ocean of rock salt” with his tail to prepare it. The meaning of the ‘Avakaya Anjaneya’ lyrics is found in showing divinity inside domestic traditions.
Aavakaaya AanjaneyaAnjaneya of the ‘Aavakaaya’ mango pickle
Kadha Modhalettinaadu SooradayyaThe hero has begun the story
Shakthinantha KoodagattiGathering all of his strength
Chettu Dhulipinaadu AnjayyaAnjayya shook the tree down
Yerra Chhaaya Yerra ChhaayaWith a reddish hue, a reddish hue
Kothi Avathaaramentha MaayaWhat magic this monkey incarnation holds
Katthi Chetha PattukundaWithout a knife in hand
Kaaya Kosinaadu KapilayyaThe great monkey sliced the fruit
Anjanamma MundhuBefore mother Anjana
Vanjul PunjulIn countless bunches
Cheedimaamidi MukkaluPieces of raw mango
Kuppal TheppalLie in mounds and heaps
Aa Aa Anjanamma MundhuYes, before mother Anjana
Vanjul PunjulIn countless bunches
Cheedimaamidi MukkaluPieces of raw mango
Kuppal TheppalLie in mounds and heaps
Tenkaloni Jeedi VankalennunnaHowever many blemishes were on the mango seed’s shell
Tenkaloni Jeedi VankalennunnaHowever many blemishes were on the mango seed’s shell
Puligoru Pallatho Parapara TheesaaduroHe scraped them clean with his tiger-claw teeth
Anjanaadri HanumanthoO Hanuman of Anjanaadri mountain
Nee Suruku CheppalenanthoYour cleverness is beyond words
Anjanaadri HanumanthoO Hanuman of Anjanaadri mountain
Nee Shakthi Lekka UppenanthoYour power is as immense as the tide
Bakkavaatam LekkaseyyakaPaying no mind to his lean form
Kalluppu Kadali VadhalananteWhen the ocean of rock salt wouldn’t yield
Thokatoti KeratamaapiHe stopped its waves with his tail
Oddu Nendesadu UppupantaAnd filled the shore with a harvest of salt
Goddukaaram GoddukaaramPotent chili powder, potent chili powder
Mukka Munigi Paiki PokkuthunteAs the pieces submerged and swelled up
Chinnithalli KantireppanantakundaWithout letting the little mother even blink
Thippe GaalivaatamHe stirred it like a whirlwind
Avapindi Antha Challi ChalliSprinkling all the mustard powder
Aarabettinaadhi Thalli ThalliThe great mother laid it out to dry
Avapindi Antha Challi ChalliSprinkling all the mustard powder
Aarabettinaadhi Thalli ThalliThe great mother laid it out to dry
Gandupilli Dhooli GattigegirostheWhen a tomcat of dust kicked up fiercely
Gandupilli Dhooli GattigegirostheWhen a tomcat of dust kicked up fiercely
Addugaa NiluchuniHe stood in its way
Angutatho MingaaduroAnd swallowed it with his big toe
Kaaki Koothalu Gora ChappulluThe cawing of crows and other harsh sounds
Aavakaaya Thanthu JaraguthunteAs the ‘Aavakaaya’ pickle ritual was underway
MentrulesenanthaloneIn the time it took to add fenugreek seeds
Pittallellagottinaadu Gadha EtthiHe lifted his mace and drove away the birds
Nuvvudonaka Dishti BommaLike a scarecrow, warding off the evil eye
Pachadonaka Soosi Dhisti PeditheIf one were to cast an evil eye on the pickle
Vellulli Reballa JabbalirisiFlexing his shoulders that were like garlic cloves
Noone Thendinaaduro KundettiHe lifted a pot and brought the oil
Sattinindaa Saraku Kukki KukkiStuffing the pot full of the goods
Utti Netti Muggetti EttiHe placed it high on the hanging pot-rest
Sattinindaa Saraku Kukki KukkiStuffing the pot full of the goods
Utti Netti Muggetti EttiHe placed it high on the hanging pot-rest
Antha Pedda DevudassalaagalekaEven such a great god couldn’t resist
Antha Pedda DevudassalaagalekaEven such a great god couldn’t resist
Aavajaadi Theesi RussapparinchaduroHe took the pickle jar and savored a taste
Anjanaadri HanumanthaaO Hanuman of Anjanaadri mountain
Nee Suruku CheppalenanthoYour cleverness is beyond words
Anjanaadri HanumanthaaO Hanuman of Anjanaadri mountain
Nee Shakthi Lekka UppenanthoYour power is as immense as the tide
The song builds a picture of a god participating in a familiar, cultural ritual. It moves from grand actions like stopping waves to a simple, relatable moment. The story ends with the great god unable to resist tasting the pickle, which grounds the entire tale in a charming, human-like action.
