Topic started by :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on Sat Oct 25 14:21:15 EDT 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Kanaka Dasa was a carnatic composer of the 16th century.
http://www.carnaticmusic.esmartmusic.com/srikanakadasa/kanakadasae.htm

Responses:

• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Sat Oct 25 14:39:01 EDT 2003
  
  other carnatic greats:
  
  Modern Composers
  Arunagiri naathar (1450 AD.), probably a Bengali by origin is supposed to have composed 16029 Tamil songs. Of those, 1311 songs called thiruppugazh are now available. He set them to ragams and thaaLams. When sung according to his rules they are believed to produce a yogic state of mind. Here is a home page dedicated to Thiruppugazh.
  
  Annamacharya (1408-1503 AD.) was born as a follower of the advaitha philosophy (Smartha/Telugu Iyer). He had a great fascination for the compositions of the aazhvaars. Thus he converted to Visisthadvaitham of Sri Ramanuja, under the guidance of the Sri AadivaN SadagOpa Yatheendra Mahaadesikan (18 August 1379 - April 1458), the first jeeyar of Ahobila maTam. People familiar with aazhvaars' works claim that many of his compositions are literal translation of the Tamil paasurams of the aazhvaars. He composed mostly in Telugu. A few Tamil compositions were found in his collection. Authorities in Carnatic music, are of the opinion that those were composed by one of his two wives.
  
  Srinivasa Nayak (1484-1564 AD.) composed in his mother tongue, Kannada. He uses purandhara viTala, the name of his favorite deity, in all his songs. Hence he is popularyly known as Purandhara Dasa. Most of the original tunes are now lost. They have been re-set to very catchy tunes, in south indian classical style, recently by M.L.VasanthaKumari and other south indian artists. In western Karnataka, they have been set to north indian classical music style. He says in his own song Vasudevana namavaliya that he composed 4,75,000 compositions. Some people take this literally. The story also goes that he became enlightened while he was a rich miserly man. Assuming that he started composing from the age 30, by which time he was very rich, and that he composed one composition every half an hour during the waking hours, and never sang the compositions he composed once again, this number is possible.
  
  Muththu Thaandavar (1550 AD.) is credited with many Tamil compositions popular in Bharatha Natyam.
  
  Arunachala kavi raayar (1711-1778AD) composed the famous Tamil dance drama of Rama Natakam and many other keerthanais and songs in Tamil. The language style is so simple that it can be understood by ordinary folk, even today.
  
  Papanasam Mudaliyar (1750 AD) composed many Tamil pieces, out of which Kumbesar Kuravanchi, an opera and three keerthanais are alone available.
  
  Ooththukkaadu Venkatasubbaiyer (1700-1765 AD.) composed a few hundred compositions on Lord Krishna, mostly in Tamil and a few in Sanskrit. He set them to music also. Most of them are being revived now.
  
  Saint Tyagaraja (1767-1847 AD.) composed about 688 compositions. That includes 24, which were probably composed by his senior disciples signing his name. (source: Tyagaraja Krithis by T.K. Govinda Rao, Chennai.). He composed mostly in his mother tongue, Telugu and a few in Sanskrit. He uses his own name Tyagaraja in all his compositions. He has an unbroken lineage of highly devoted disciples even until today. They are dedicated to popularizing his compositions and preserving his original style.
  
  For an interesting article on Tyagaraja and Tamil, see Prof.S. Pasupathy's article in SRUTI issue #55, April 1989, page 28.
  
  Muthuswami Diskshitar (1776-1835 AD) composed mostly in Sanskrit. Uses the word Guru Guha as signature in his compositions.
  
  Syama Sastry (1762-1827 AD.) has about 300 composions in Sanskrit and Telugu. His son Subbaraya Saasthri also composed many popular kritis. He used Kumaara (meaning son) as his signature.
  
  Swati Tirunal (1813-1846 AD.) composed in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi.
  
  Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845-1902) was a disciple of Maanamboochaavadi Venkatasubbier who was the disciple of Thyagaraja. His composition Raghuvamsa sudha in Kathanakuthoohalam is very popular. His signature is Venaktesa.
  
  kAvaDichindu and the kiLikkanni draw heavily from Tamil folk music. The kiLikkani is usually a love song. The most famous composer of kAvaDichindus is aNNAmalai reddiAr of cinnikuLam (1865-1891).
  
  Gopala Krishna Bharathi (1811-1881.AD.) has several hundred Tamil compositions to his credit, including the dance drama nandanar charithram.
  
  Kadigai pulavargaL (1850 AD.) were scholars in music and Tamil. They are credited with villi Baaratham opera, and many other compositions.
  
  Ramanathapuram (Poochi) Srinivasa Iyengar (1860-1919) was a disciple of Patnam Subramania Iyer and Guru of Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar. He used Srinivasa as his signature.
  
  Father Beschi, (1800 AD.) an Italian by origin, composed in Tamil, thEmbaavaNi the life of Jesus Christ. It was sung in Classical music style.
  
  Kavi Kunjara Bharathi (1810-1896 AD.) and his grand son Koteeswara Iyer (1870-1936 AD.) have many Tamil compositions to their credit.
  
  Subramanya Bharathi (1882-1921 AD.) brought back respect for Tamil music in Tamil Nadu. He composed almost a 1000 songs in his short life. He set most of them to music himself. He covered nature, politics, hinduism, christianism, Islam, social life. In addition, he published cartoons and articles in English, French and Tamil.
  
  Papanasam Sivan, whose compositions are now being accepted slowly in the Carnatic music world has himself composed a song in praise of the poetic ingenuity of Subramanya Bharathi.
  
  Papanasam Sivan (1890-1973 AD.) composed more than 500 compositions for classical music rendering in Tamil. They have recently been getting recognition after his death. He uses Rama Dasan in most of his compositions. He has also composed several hundred songs for Tamil films.
  
  Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar (1890 - 1967 AD.) was one of the first to re-introduce Tamil music in Carnatic music concerts. The tradition was further enhanced by Kalki Krishnamurthy who was one of the founders of Tamil Isai Changam. It was dedicated to bring the re-acceptance of Tamil in the Classical music world.
  
  M.M.DhandapaNi Desikar (1908-1972 AD.) composed and has sung many Tamil compositions. He popularized Tamil compositions as main pieces of concerts. It was a practice to allocate a few Tamil songs at the end of concerts.
  
  T.S.Parthasarathy (b. 1913) has published Tamil translation of many works including thiruvengadamudaiyaan thiruppaLLi ezhucchi (Venkatesa Suprabhatam), thirumaalin naamamaayiram (Vishnu Sahasranam). These have been rendered by Srimathi M.S. Subbalakshmi and others.
  
  Maharajapuram Santhanam (1928-1990 AD.) composed mostly in Tamil. Uses Maharajan in his songs.
  
  Lalgudi Jayaraman (b.1930) is famous for his Tamil compositions and dance dramas.
  
  M. Balamurali Krishna has composed in Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada and Tamil. Uses his own name Murali in all his songs.
  
  Mysore Vasudevachar was a disciple of Patnam Subramania Iyer and composed the many famous krithi like Brochevarevarura (Kamas). He uses Vasudeva as Mudra.
  
  Thanjavur Ponniah Pillai (perhaps comes in the line of Dikshithar's disiciple Ponniah of the Quartet Sivanandam, Vadivelu, Chinniah, Ponnia - to be checked). Composed Amba Neelaambari (Neelambari), Maayatheetha (Maayaamaalavagowla), Saatile (Poorvikalyaani) etc. Used Gurugaha as mudhra! (generally as Guruguha daasa but sometimes as Guruga alone-the use of this mudhra may be due to reverence to Dikshithar, who also uses Guruguha.).
  
  Thanjavur Sankara Iyer. A contemporary composer with many krithis and dance dramas. They have been sung by D.K.Jayaraman, MLV, T.V.Sankaranarayanan. Composer of Mahaadeva Siva(Revathi) Ranjani maala (Ragamalaika in 4 *ranjani's), Nathajana (Nalina Kaanthi), Manasaaramathiyanai (Saaramathi), Manathirkkuhandadu (Sindhubhairavi), Raama naamame (Desh) and continue to compose even today although he had a severe stroke 2 years ago.
  
  Maarimuthaa Pillai is considered one of the 'Tamil Trinity'.
  
  Vedhanayakam Pillai composed songs on god without reference to any particular name (like Karunalaya Nidhiye in Hindolam) and his songs are supposed to be applicable to all religions.
  
  Note that this list is not exhaustive. Please do feel free to add, correct and send additional names to me for inclusion. You can read about many more music related personalities in The Garland Series by N. Rajagopalan. Carnatic Composers and Musicians, by N.Rajagopalan. Carnatic Classicals, 3, 24th Cross Street, Indira Nagar, Madras 600020
  
  
  Source: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/3030/index.htm
  
  
• From: Lakshman (@ 64.187.32.101) on: Sat Oct 25 15:25:04 EDT 2003
  
  > Note that this list is not exhaustive. Please do feel free to add, correct and send additional names to me for inclusion. <
  How does one send you the information if your email is not given?
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Sat Oct 25 18:37:54 EDT 2003
  
  Lakshman, as you can see, the source for the above info is at http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/3030/index.htm You can find the email address for the webmaster of the site at the bottom of that page.
  
  
• From: Santhosh Kr R Nair (@ 203-195-210-115.now-india.net.in) on: Tue Jul 27 01:56:13
  
  Oh it is great..
  
  I love many of the Kruthis of
  Narayana Thirthar
  Kanaka Dasa (I heard many of them)
  Vijaya Dasa (especially - sada nanna hrudayadalli...
  Purandara Dasa, (especially - Neeyakko ninna hung yakke...)
  and many others...
  I heard that Purandara was "Navkoti Narayan" and got "Virakti" and left all his "well-beings" in search of God Purandhra - Krsna.
  Please go thru this... http://www.carnaticmusic.esmartmusic.com/srikanakadasa/kanakacomp.htm
  
  NICE THREAD..
  EXCELLANT TO GO THRU.
  love, regards & respects
  Santhosh Nair.
  
  
• From: Manjunatha (@ ppp-219-65-151-163.bng.vsnl.net.in) on: Sat Jul 31 13:30:44 EDT 2004
  
  Can anybody give the text of Purandhara dasa's composition Vasudevana namavaliya
  
  Thanks + Regards
  Manju
  
  
• From: Lakshman (@ kit-ppp-64.187.32.213.porchlight.ca) on: Sun Aug 1 20:09:38 EDT 2004
  
  vAsudEvana nAmAvaLiya. rAgA: mukhAri. jhampe tALA.
  
  P: vAsudEvana nAmAvaLiya klptiyanu vyAsarAyara paryanta varNiside nAnu
  C1: kEdAra rAmEshvara kirukuLada bhUtaLada pAdAravinda tIrtta prati kSEtrava
  Adaradi lakSa ippattaidu sAvira krtiya vEda shAstra purANa vividha sammatiyinda
  2: suLAdi aruvatta nAlku sAsira bahu vratavu nAmAvaLiyu mUvattaidu sAsiravAgi
  nalidu shvEta dvIpa anantAsana vaikuNTha salEshaSana mahimeya baNNisidEnu
  3: brahmalOka kailAsa bharadi digpAlakara pramEya embhattu sAsi pELidEnu
  samnata halavu kathesAra tombhattu sAsiravu ommanadi hELidEnu odagi janarella kELi
  
  
• From: Lakshman (@ kit-ppp-64.187.32.213.porchlight.ca) on: Sun Aug 1 20:10:41 EDT 2004
  
  (continued from above post)
  4: Ahnika guNa janmASTami EkAdashi nirNaya shruti sahita varNisidEnu
  anagha agaNita mUrti gaNDagI shileyanu ghana kalyANa dEsha aruvattu sAsiradi
  5: madhvarAyara mahime maha guru parampare prasiddha vyAsarAyara pariyantavu
  siddha tantrasArOkta sEvakara tAratamya uddharisi nA nimage Urviyali pELiside
  6: avaravara mUrti dhyAna avaravara vara kIrtimAna vivaradali nA nimage vistariside
  havaNeyindippattaidu sAsira krtiyannu bhuvanadali pELidEnu budhajanarella kELi
  7: indu nALku lakSa eppattombhattu sAsira krtiya kantujanakana nAma ghana mahimeya
  santasadi shruti sammati pramANadali shrImanta purandara viTTala vyAsamunige pELisida
  
  

Want to post a response?