Muthuswami Dikshitar Life History

Muthuswami Dikshitar Early Days:

Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in 1775. He had two brothers and one sister; all were cared for, and he learned the Sanskrit language and music very early. His family lived in Manali, Tamil Nadu. In his childhood days, his father architects his career as a musician. He read Hindu Philosophy, Puranas, and other sacred books. His father was his first Guru in learning music. Muthuswami Dikshitar was a teenager; his father sent him on a pilgrimage to know physical knowledge by wandering various places. Then he joined as a disciple of Chidambaranatha Yogi and travelled all over North India. He learned philosophy and Hindustani music in Kaasi. The Yogi presented him with a unique vina instrument and explained the purpose of his life. After a few days, the Yogi died; still, we can see his Samadhi in Hanuman Ghat, Kaasi. The same vina influenced him to compose new ragas in later years.

Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Contribution to Music:

He came back to Tiruttani from Kasi to worship Lord Subramanya Swami. Daily he stood before the idol of Subramanya and sang songs in Hindustani music to praise God. One day the appeased Subramanya Swami appeared before him and asked to open his mouth. The Dikshitar opened his mouth, and Subramanya Swami kept a piece of sugar candy in his mouth. From then, he composed beautiful kirtans. Since then visited various temples like Shree Kaantimateem, Rameswaram and Kaasi and composed the Krithis praising the Gods.
After returning from Kaasi and settling in Tiruvaaroor.

Achievements:

Dikshitar and his brothers served in the composition of various tunes in Hindustani music and spread them in different holy shrine places. They gathered the disciples and taught them music skills. One day he had no money to make the offering to his deities, so his disciple Kamalam, the famous classical dancer, offered her jewels to get cash for the offerings. However, he refused the jewels and composed a kirtan sung before the deities. As soon as he completed the song, the choultry manager gifted two cartloads of food and offering materials. Muthuswami Dikshitar wrote many songs and ragas; perhaps we have available only 461 pieces and 191 ragas. His Krithis follows the slow-tempo composition. In 1835, he went to ETTaiyapuram to attend a marriage in a Royal family; there, he composed his last Krithis. On the way to returning to ETTaiyapuram, he died on October 21, 1835.