Muthuswamy Dheekshithar (1776-1835)

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Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in 1776, in a family of intellectuals, well versed in Sastra. He is considered as the youngest of the Carnatic Musical Trinity.

His father gave him a full course in music in Purandaradasar's pattern. Mastery in playing the Veena was a family virtue and Dikshitar's particular asset. He also spent five years at Benares & was well versed in the North Indian form of music.

Dikshitar was a personification of erudition - well versed in the study of Vedas, Agamas, Astronomy, Astrology and even Medicine.

His compositions are known for their originality of the structure and reflects Dikshitar's poetic imagery, mastery of Sanskrit, dignity, tranquility, a scholarly style and above all, steeped in devotion. Some of his famous compositions are the Kamalamba Navavarnam, Navagraha kriti, Chaturdasa Ragamalika. His mudra was Guruguha.

Dikshitar's greatest service to Carnatic Music was that that he gave body and shape to nearly 200 ragas of Venkatamakhin. He has employed 191 ragas for 460 compositions. He has composed in all the 72 melakartha ragas.

He composed rare ragas such as Andhali, Salanganata, Samanta etc.,with the more popular and familiar ones like Kalyani, Thodi, Sankarabharanam and Bhairavi.

It is said that Dikshitar's songs are summaries of Durga Suktam, Sri Suktam and Purusha Suktam - adumbrated in the Vedas.

Dikshitar passed away on October 21, 1835.

Discography

In alphabetical order of the title