Ramaswami Dikshitar
Ramaswami Dikshita (IAST: Rāmasvāmi Dīkṣita, 1735–1817)[1] or Dikshitar[lower-alpha 1] was a South Indian composer of Carnatic music and the father of Muthuswami Dikshitar. He was a member of the courts of Amarasimha (r. 1787–98) and Tulaja II (r. 1763–87) of Thanjavur.[2]
Ramaswami Dikshitar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1735 Virinjipuram near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu |
| Died | 1817 Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu |
| Occupation | Carnatic music composer |
| Children | 4, including Muthuswami |
| Relatives | Subbarama Dikshitar (great grandson) |
Ramaswami Dikshitar was instructed in music and music theory by Melattur Veerabhadrayya and Venkata Vaidyanatha Dīkshitar, a grandson of Venkatamakhin, author of the Chaturdandiprakashika. His ragamalika using 108 ragas and talas is notable and the longest of its type. He also composed varnams in a variety of ragas. He is popularly considered the creator of the raga, Hamsadhvani. Others believe that he was the first to create a composition using it which made it popular. His son Muthuswami Dikshitar's acclaimed work, Vatapi Ganapatim was composed using the same raga.[2]
Besides Muthuswami, Ramaswami Dikshitar had two other sons, Chinnaswami and Balaswami, and a daughter, Balamba. Balaswami's grandson was the composer and scholar, Subbarama Dikshitar.[3]
References
- Rāmaswāmi Dīkshitar, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195650983. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- Dīkshitar Musical Family, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195650983. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
External links
- Biography by P.P. Narayanaswami