This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010)

Navaratri
Navratri Golu depicting various forms of Hindu deities worshiped for 9 days
Type	Major [Hindu] Festival.
Begins	September/October
Ends	October/November
Date	Usually September-November. The date changes as per lunar calender.
2012 date	October 16 - October 24[1]
Celebrations	9-10 days

Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of a Hindu deity Shakti. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights^[2]. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

Significance[link]

The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.

Navarathri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power]. The Navarathri festival or ‘Nine Nights festival’ becomes ‘ten days festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshiped with fervor and devotion.^[3]

Traditions of Navaratri[link]

Devotees in West Bengal diya lamps to celebrate Navarathri and Durga Puja

Goddess Durga Pandal in Bengal during Durga Puja, a Navarathri Festival.

An article related to Hinduism
Hindu • History
Deities Trimurti Brahma • Vishnu • Shiva Devis and Devas Saraswati · Lakshmi · Parvati Shakti · Durga  · Kali Ganesha · Subrahmanya · Ayyappa Rama · Krishna Hanuman Prajapati · Rudra Indra · Agni · Dyaus Bhumi · Varuna · Vayu
Philosophy Concepts Brahman · Om · Ishvara Atman · Maya Karma · Samsara Purusharthas (Dharma · Artha · Kama · Moksha) Nirvana Schools Astika-Orthodox Samkhya · Yoga Nyaya · Vaisheshika Purva mimamsa Uttara mimamsa (Vedanta) (Dvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita) Nastika-Heterodox Charvaka Buddhism Jainism Other Orthodox Schools Pasupata · Saiva Pratyabhijña · Raseśvara Pāṇini Darśana
Scriptures Vedas Rigveda • Yajurveda Samaveda • Atharvaveda Divisions Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad Upavedas Ayurveda • Dhanurveda Gandharvaveda • Sthapatyaveda Vedangas Shiksha · Chandas · Vyakarana Nirukta · Kalpa · Jyotisha Upanishads Rig vedic Aitareya Yajur vedic Brihadaranyaka · Isha Taittiriya · Katha · Shvetashvatara Sama vedic Chandogya · Kena Atharva vedic Mundaka · Mandukya · Prashna Puranas Brahma puranas Brahma · Brahmanda Brahmavaivarta Markandeya · Bhavishya Vaishnava puranas Vishnu · Bhagavata Naradeya · Garuda · Padma Shaiva puranas Shiva · Linga Skanda · Agni · Vayu Itihasas Ramayana · Mahabharata Other scriptures Bhagavat Gita Dharma Shastra · Manusmriti Artha Shastra · Yoga Vasistha Sutras · Stotras · Tantras Yoga Sutra others Classification of scriptures Śruti · Smriti Timeline Hindu texts
Practices Worship Puja · Japa · Bhajana Tapa · Dhyana Yajna · Homa Tirthadana · Naivedhya Temple · Vigraha · Bhakti Samskaras Garbhadhana · Pumsavana · Simantonayana · Jatakarma · Namakarana · Nishkramana · Annaprashana · Chudakarana · Karnavedha · Vidyarambha · Upanayana · Praishartha · Keshanta · Ritushuddhi · Samavartana · Vivaha · Antyeshti Varnashrama Dharma Varna Brahmin · Kshatriya Vaishya · Shudra Ashrama Brahmacharya · Grihastha Vanaprastha · Sanyasa Festivals Navaratri Vijayadashami (Dasara) Deepavali · Shivaratri · Holi Kumbha Mela · Ratha Yatra · Vishu · Bihu · Baisakhi · Puthandu Ganesh Chaturthi · Onam Rama Navami · Janmashtami Raksha Bandhan
Philosophers Ancient Gautama · Angiras · Ashtavakra · Jaimini · Kanada · Kapila · Pāṇini · Patañjali · Uddalaka · Valmiki · Vyasa · Yajnavalkya Medieval Adi Shankara · Basava · Dnyaneshwar · Chaitanya · Gangesha Upadhyaya · Gaudapada · Jayanta Bhatta · Kabir · Kumarila Bhatta · Madhusudana · Madhva · Namdeva · Nimbarka · Prabhakara · Raghunatha Siromani · Ramanuja · Srimanta Sankardeva · Vedanta Desika · Tukaram · Tulsidas · Vachaspati Mishra · Vallabha · Vidyaranya Modern Aurobindo · Coomaraswamy · Dayananda Saraswati · Gandhi · Krishnananda · Narayana Guru · Prabhupada · Ramakrishna · Ramana Maharshi · Radhakrishnan · Sivananda · U. G. Krishnamurti · Vivekananda · Yogananda
Other topics Hindu denominations Hinduism by country Mythology • Hindu calendar Hindu law • Hindu iconography Hindu nationalism • Hindutva Hindu pilgrimage sites Persecution • Criticism Glossary
Hinduism Portal Hindu Mythology Portal v t e

Navarathri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Paush/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.

1. Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navaratri, also known as Vasant Navaratri, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navaratri. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri.

2. Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navaratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

3. Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).

4. Paush Navaratri: Paush Navaratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Paush (December–January). Paush Navaratri is observed during the Paush Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

5. Magha Navaratri: Magha Navaratri, also referred as Gupta Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

Vasanta Navaratri[link]

This is celebrated during Vasanta Rhitu (beginning of summer) (March- April). This is also known as Chaitra navarathri as it falls during the lunar month of Chaitra.

The Story of Vasanta Navaratri[link]

In days long gone by, King Dhruvasindhu was killed by a lion when he went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.

The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi’s statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.

Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit’s son came one day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.

The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.

The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devis helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.

Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to worship her with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navarathri. Then she disappeared.

Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navarathri.

Sudarsana’s descendants, namely, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, also performed worship of Devi during the Sharada Navarathri and were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.

Sharad Navaratri[link]

Commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month Aswayuja/Asvina.

‘The Navarathri festival has to be celebrated during the bright fortnight of the month of Asvina, in the order of pratipada, etc, until the navami ends,’ says the Dhaumya-vacana.

Navarathri in the year 2011 starts on 28 September 2011 and ends on 05 October 2011 with Vijayadashami celebrated on 06 October 2011.

Forms of Shakti[link]

"The nine forms of Durga" displayed in Benares, Uttar Pradesh

Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris. The Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region.

• Durga, the inaccessible one
• Bhadrakali
• Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe
• Annapoorna devi, The one who bestows grains (anna) in plenty (purna: used as subjective)
• Sarvamangala, The one who gives joy (mangal) to all (sarva)
• Bhairavi
• Chandika or Chandi
• Lalita
• Bhavani
• Mookambika

Rituals[link]

Garba dance in Ahmedabad during navaratri festivities

The Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.

Navarathri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all three Navaratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshiping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. The Chaitra Navratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navaratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The Dussehra of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous in the North. Navratri festival in Gujarat is one of the main festivals. Garba is dance which people use to dance after the Durga Pooja with the groups and live orchestra or devotional songs.

The last four days of Sharad Navaratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam in East India where they are celebrated as Durga Puja.^[4] This is the biggest festival of the year in this state. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura are set up in temples and other places. These idols are then worshiped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day.

In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance. Since the past few years, the Government Of Gujarat has been organising the "Navratri Festival Celebrations" on a regular basis for the nine days of Navratri Festival in Gujarat. People from all over Gujarat and even abroad come to participate in the nine days celebrations. It is also popular throughout India and among Indian communities around the world including the UK, Canada and USA.

In Goa, zatra begins during Navratri, entire Antruz (Ponda) is highly ornated. The Saraswat Brahmin temples are beautifully decorated and the idols are taken out for worship. The idols are dressed and adorned with flowers, sandalwood paste, turmeric and kumkum. Devotees come during Navarathri to get the special darshan and what mostly a devotee awaits is the Kaul Prasad, which is as something given from the Gods and Goddess itself. The Deities are emblazoned with flowers and devotees or priests continue to worship the deity without even changing the flowers on them. At the end of the festive night the flowers are distributed as Prasad for the devotees. The Dasha Maitrikas (the 10 sisters of Goa) of the Saraswat Brahmins are taken out to worship - namely, Shantadurga, Aryadurga, Mahalasa, Katyayani, Mahamaya, Kamakshi, Vijayadurga, Bhumika, Mahalakshmi and Navadurga.

In South India, people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu. Photos of typical Golu displayed in Tamil Nadu style at a home in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is shown by the side.

In Karnataka, Ayudha Puja, the ninth day of Mysore Dasara, is celebrated with the worship of implements used in daily life such as computers, books, vehicles, or kitchen tools. The effort to see the divine in the tools and objects one uses in daily life is central to this celebration, so it includes all tools that help one earn one's livelihood. Knowledge workers go for books, pen or computers, farmers go for the plough and other agricultural tools, machinery for industrialists and cars/buses/trucks for the transportation workers—all are decorated with flowers and worshiped on this day invoking God's blessing for success in coming years. It is believed that any new venture such as starting of business or purchasing of new household items on this day is bound to bring success and prosperity.

In Kerala, three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of Sharad Navarathri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshiped. The books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples. On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after worshiping Sarasvati. Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of children are initiated into the world of letters on this day in Kerala.

In Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, people celebrate Bathukamma festival over a period of nine days. It is a kind of navratri celebration.

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.

First three days[link]

The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.

Second three days[link]

The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.

Final three days[link]

little girls dressed up as various goddesses during the last day of Navarathri

The final set of three days is spent in worshiping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

Eighth day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal.

In some parts of South India, Saraswati puja is performed on the 9th day. Ayudha Puja is conducted in many parts of South India on the Mahanavami (Ninth) day with much fanfare. Weapons, agricultural implements, all kinds of tools, equipments, machinery and automobiles are decorated and worshipped on this day along with the worship of Goddess. The work starts afresh from the next day, i.e. the 10th day which is celebrated as 'Vijaya Dashami'. Many teachers/Schools in south India start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards.

In North India, as the culmination of the Ramlila which is enacted ceremoniously during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dashami' day.

During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. Devotees avoid meat, alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and onion during this fast. Grains are usually avoided since it is believed that during the period of Navratri and seasonal change, grains attract and absorb lots of negative energies^[5] from the surrounding and therefore there is a need to avoid eating anything which are produced from grains for the purification of Navratri to be successful. Navratri is also a period of introspection and purification, and is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.

During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere.

Navratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshiped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.

During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Poojan, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped.

See also[link]

• Garba (dance)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Navaratri

• Navaratri: In the festival of "Nine Nights," Hindus across the globe worship the feminine form of the Supreme
• How to worship the Goddess during Navratri ?

v t e Festivals in the Hindu calendar Major festivals Pongal Makar Sankranti Holi Rama Navami Krishna Janmashtami Maha Shivaratri Onam Ganesh Chaturthi Navratri (Mysore Dasara – Durga Puja – Vijayadashami) Diwali (Bhau-Beej) Chhath Vat Purnima Thaipusam Regional New Year Gudi Padwa (Marathi, Konkani) Ugadi (Telugu, Kannada) Cheti Chand (Sindhi) Bihu (Assamese) Bisu (Tuluva) Vaisakhi (Punjabi) Vishuva Sankranti (Oriya) Pohela Boishakh (Bengali) Puthandu (Tamil) Vishu (Malayalee) Holy days Ekadashi Gowri Habba Karwa Chauth Mahalakshmi Vrata Raksha Bandhan Sankranti Savitri Brata Thaipusam Holy periods Chaturmas Dhanurmas

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009)

Haidakhan Babaji, simply called "Babaji" or Bhole Baba (an epithet for Shiva) by his students and devotees, was a teacher who appeared in northern India (Uttarakhand) and taught publicly from 1970 to 1984. The spiritual teacher Leonard Orr wrote about his encounters with Haidakhan Babaji, and together with Sondra Ray, promoted him as being Mahavatar Babaji.^[1]

Haidakhan Babaji suffered several illnesses in his last years and died in 1984.^[1]

Teachings[link]

Babaji taught that the Sanatana Dharma or "Eternal Religion" was to lead a life based on truth, simplicity and love. Although he taught from a Hindu perspective, he claimed that all religions were good and helpful. He also taught that karma yoga and japa, the repetition of a mantra, was the best path for most people to follow. He particularly stressed the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" claiming it was "more powerful than a nuclear bomb."

One of his more radical teachings was that some type of great disaster was coming, though he did not say what it was or when it would come. He did say that it would be a worldwide catastrophe. In some countries he predicted a survival rate of 5% or lower, saying that the highest survival rate in any country would be 25%, while some countries would be completely destroyed. The only way to survive this was to pray to one's chosen deity or chant Om Namah Shivaya.^[2]

Nama Japa, the repetition of God's Name, was a fundamental part of Haidakhan Babaji's teachings:

Have faith! Reciting the Name of the Lord is not the first, but the last stage of spiritual practice! When lions enter the forest, the other animals run away. Likewise, all evil thoughts will vanish with the recitation of the Lord's name. Reciting the Name of the Lord will bring you the company of a good people and you will be near saints. Blessed are the few who will discard the kingdom of the world for the Lord's name. Such a devotee always resides in My heart. In the womb, you take a vow not to get attached; but as soon as you come out, you get entangled. Abandon attachment! Your mind plays tricks on you! That is why you are after pleasures! All worldly things - including the desire for liberation - are obstacles to which you are attached. If you want divine peace, leave behind ignorant karma.^[1]

See also[link]

• Mahavatar Babaji - an Indian saint who appeared between 1861 and 1935 and described firstly by Lahiri Mahasaya
• Hariakhan Baba - a teacher who appeared in many places in northern India near the Himalayas between 1861 and 1924

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Orr, Leonard (1995). Babaji: The Angel of the Lord. ISBN 0-945793-18-9

Further reading[link]

• Reichel, Gertraud (1990). Babaji - Gateway to the Light. ISBN 3-926388-07-2
• Shyam, Radhe (1991). I am Harmony, book about Babaji. ISBN 0-9626421-0-X

External links[link]

• Haidakhandi Samaj

Nageswara Rao Akkineni
Born	Akkineni Nageswara Rao (1922-09-20) September 20, 1922 (age 89) Venkata Raghava Puram, Krishna District, Madras Presidency, British India
Residence	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Other names	ANR, Natasamrat
Occupation	Actor, producer, studio owner
Spouse	Annapurna Akkineni (1949 - 2011 her death)
Children	Venkat Akkineni Nagarjuna Akkineni
Relatives	Sumanth (grandson) Sushanth (grandson) Naga Chaitanya (grandson) Akhil Akkineni (grandson) Amala Akkineni (daughter-in-law)
Signature

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (Telugu: అక్కినేని నాగేశ్వర రావు) (born 20 September 1922 at Ramapuram,^[1] Gudivada Taluk,^[2] Krishna District), popularly known by his initials ANR,^[3] is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 78-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films. Nageswara Rao has been active in the Telugu film industry since 1941^[3] and is the recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest award for films in India. He is also a recipient of Padmashri, Padmabhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards.^[1]

Early life and background[link]

Akkineni Nageswara Rao was born into a poor farmer's family on 20 September 1922 at Ramapuram, Krishna District.^[1] He has stated on record in several interviews that his education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic conditions. Nageswara Rao took to acting at a very early age. He started acting in street plays at the age of nine.^[1]

Indian plays in those days used to have an all male cast and male leads often played female roles (as evidenced in the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra).^[4] In his early days as an actor, Nageswara Rao used to enact such female roles on stage.^[1]

Film career[link]

Nageswara Rao's first Telugu film was Dharmapatni in 1941, wherein he played the role of one of the main lead's childhood friends.^[5] He later continued his career as a part-time stage actor and acted in several Telugu plays such as Ashoka Jyothy, Sathyanveshana and Telugu Talli.^[5] On one such occasion, when he was travelling back from a play in Tenali, he was spotted in the Vijayawada railway station by Ghantasala Balaramaiah, a popular film producer of that time, and was immediately offered the lead role in his upcoming movie Seeta Rama Jananam.^[5] He played the role of Lord Rama in that film.

In a career spanning over 78 years in the Telugu film industry, he has played the lead role in over 256 Telugu films and 26 Tamil films. Several of these films turned out to be financial and critical successes.^[1]

Among other things, Nageswara Rao is credited for influencing Telugu film producers and creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad.

The Telugu film industry in its early days was based out of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu.^[6] The new state of Andhra Pradesh was carved out from the Madras Presidency on 1 November 1956 and several leaders opined that in order to create a separate identity for the Telugu film industry, it had to be based out of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. ANR was one of the actors of that period who insisted on creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad and established his own production studio, Annapurna Studios, to facilitate this.^[7]

Prominent films[link]

ANR has acted in several landmark Telugu films. Some of his prominent films are Tenali Rama Krishna, Kalidasu, Devadasu, Mayabazar, Missamma, Dr. Chakravarthi, Ardhangi, Muga Manasulu, Dasara Bullodu, Prem Nagar and Premabhishekam. The film Premabhishekam directed by Dasari Narayana Rao is one of the biggest hits in Tollywood. It had an amazing 533 days run in Hyderabad City, which is still the highest run in a city for any Telugu movie. Premabhishekam is the only Telugu film to have run for 365+ days continuously.^[8][9][10]

Awards and honors[link]

Civilian honors

• Padma Vibhushan (2011)
• Padma Bhushan (1988)
• Padma Shri (1968)

National Film Awards

• Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1990)

Nandi Awards

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award (1989)

Nandi Award for Best Actor

• Doctor Chakravarthy (1964)
• Antastulu (1965),
• Sudigundaalu (1967)
• Meghasandesam (1982)
• Bangaru Kutumbam (1994)

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award - Marapurani Manishi (1973)
• Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award - Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu (1991)

Other State Honors

• Kalaimamani from Tamil Nadu State.
• Kalidasu from Madhya Pradesh State.^[3] At one point he was also appointed as an adviser to the State Film Development Corporation.^[3]

Charity[link]

The Akkineni International Foundation is the charitable arm of Annapurna Studios, which is involved in charity all over India, as part of the movie studios corporate social responsibility. The ANR National Award was instituted by the foundation in the honor of Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The award was given annually to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Indian film industry.^[11][12]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Akkineni Nageswara Rao at the Internet Movie Database