MUTHUSWAMI DIKSHITAR

MUTHUSWAMI DIKSHITAR

Muthuswami Dikshitar ,(March 24, 1775 – October 21, 1835) is a  Soth Indian  poet and composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of  Carnatic  music. His compositions, of which around 500 are commonly known, are noted for their contemplative nature and for capturing the essence of the raga forms through the vainika (veena) style that emphasises gamakas. They are typically in a slower speed (chowka kala). He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha.His compositions are widely sung and played in classical concerts of Carnatic music.

The musical trinity consists of Dikshitar, Tyagaraj  (1767–1847), and  Syama Sastri (1762–1827)although, unlike the  Telugu compositions of the others, his compositions are predominantly in Sanskrit . He also had composed some of his Kritis in  Manipraqvalam 

Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in  Thruvarur  (of Thiruvarur district in what is now the state of  Tamil Nadu  to a  Tamil  Iyer Brahmin couple Ramaswami Dikshitar and Subbamma, as the eldest son. According to the account of Subbarama Dikshitar, Muttuswami Dikshitar was born in the manmathayear, in the month of  Tamil Panguni under the asterism Krittikaa. He was named after the temple deity, Muttukumaraswamy; legend has it that he was born after his parents prayed for a child in the  Vaitheeswaran Temple . He had two younger brothers Baluswami, Chinnaswami and a sister Balambal.In keeping with the  Braluninic  educational tradition, Muthuswami learnt the sanskrit  language, Vedas , and other important religious texts. He obtained his preliminary musical education from his father.

While he was still in his teens, his father sent him on a pilgrimage with a wandering monk named Chidambarabatha Yogi  to gain musical and philosophical knowledge. Over the course of this pilgrimage, he visited many places in North India and acquired a broad outlook that is reflected in many of his composotions  . During their stay in Kashi  ( Varanasi ), his guru Chidambaranatha Yogi, presented Dikshitar with a unique  Veena  and died shortly thereafter. The  samadlu of Chidambaranatha Yogi can still be seen in Sri Chakra Lingeshwar temple at the  Hanuman Ghat area in Varanasi.

Prof. John Kurakar