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MUTHUSWAMI
DIKSHITAR
Muthuswami
Dikshitar, a famous Carnatic musician from Tanjavore, Tamil Nadu
was born on March 24, 1774 . His
pen name was Guruguha.
 Muthu,
when he was young spent
some of his early years with the great Chidambaranatha Yogi who was the
guru of Muthu's father Ramaswami. This saint was a great occultist.
Life
at Kasi with him, for Muthuswami was one of study and meditation. For about
six years he lived and learned with the yogi, mastering Sanskrit, literature
and grammar, philosophy and tantra yoga. They visited many temples. Finally
on the eve of his departure, the master told him, to have a bath in the
Holy Ganges, before he leaves so that he will be blessed. Accordingly,
Dikshitar went to the river and descending a few steps, dipped into the
water and a miracle happened. A veena with the words 'Rama' inscribed
came to him from the waters.
His musical
training was mainly under his father Ramaswami Dikshitar and had become
highly proficient in it even in his childhood. He has composed Kriti's
in Ragas like 'Brindavani Sarang', 'Hamiu Kalyani' (very similar to Kedar
of the north).
He came
to be known as one among the Trinities of Carnatic music. There is a saying
in South India that the music of Tyagaraja is like a grape - the moment
you put it in your mouth it dissolves and is sweet, that of Shyama
Shastry
is like a banana. One has to peel the skin to eat it. But the art of Dikshitar
is like a coconut: if you want to taste the milk inside you will have
to break the hard shell. He passed away in the year 1835.
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