Annamcharya is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Venkateswara's NANDAKA(sword). Sri Tallapaka ANNAMACHARYA(1408-1503) the mystic saint composer of the 15th century is the earliest known musician of South India to compose SANKIRTHANAS(devotional songs) in praise of LORD VENKATESWARA(Balaji), the deity of Seven Hills in Tirumala and a manifestation of Lord Vishnu himself. This time he chose to win over people through Bhakti and music.' 'Whenever the earth is permeated with sins, Lord Vishnu takes it upon himself to cleanse it by some means - the stick and carrot policy of punishment or appeasement. There is no place in the entire universe that equals Venkatadri(Tirumala), the place where the Lord resides and there is no God, neither in the past nor in the future who equals Venkateswara(Balaji). 'venkaTAdri samam sthAnam, brahmANDe nAsti kinchana venkateSa samo devo, na bhUto na bhaviSyati!'
