R
Ramachander
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Dear Friends,
Oothukkadu Venkatasubbayyar or Venkata Kavi as he is popularly known, is believed to have lived during the pre-Trinity days (some fifty years prior to Tyagaraja) in early 18th century. Some musicologists estimate his period to be between 1700 and 1765. He is said to have been born in the Tamil month of Avani (mid-August to mid-September) on the day of makha nakshatram (star), in the temple town of Mannargudi, a town famous for the temple of Rajagopala. Mannargudi was also an active centre for Vaishnava philosophy then. He was the second son of Ramachandra Vathoolar and Kamalanayani Ammal. After a brief stay in the nearby village of Needamangalam, he moved to his permanent location, Oothukkadu. He got trained in music under eminent musicologists of that day. He then chose a life of complete isolation. His main occupation was composing Carnatic music Krithis. He preferred composing in Tamil. He being a great devotee of Lord Krishna has composed very many compositions eulogizing the childhood pranks of Lord Krishna. He also composed a few Sanskrit Krithis. The most famous among his Sanskrit compositions are the Kamakshi Navavarana Krithis praising his family Deity Goddess Kamakshi. These are
Source Article by Dr.P.P.Narayanaswami
Each of these composition is drenched in devotion. The English meaning of these Krithis is given in
Translations of some songs of Carntic music
With best wishes, Ramachander
Oothukkadu Venkatasubbayyar or Venkata Kavi as he is popularly known, is believed to have lived during the pre-Trinity days (some fifty years prior to Tyagaraja) in early 18th century. Some musicologists estimate his period to be between 1700 and 1765. He is said to have been born in the Tamil month of Avani (mid-August to mid-September) on the day of makha nakshatram (star), in the temple town of Mannargudi, a town famous for the temple of Rajagopala. Mannargudi was also an active centre for Vaishnava philosophy then. He was the second son of Ramachandra Vathoolar and Kamalanayani Ammal. After a brief stay in the nearby village of Needamangalam, he moved to his permanent location, Oothukkadu. He got trained in music under eminent musicologists of that day. He then chose a life of complete isolation. His main occupation was composing Carnatic music Krithis. He preferred composing in Tamil. He being a great devotee of Lord Krishna has composed very many compositions eulogizing the childhood pranks of Lord Krishna. He also composed a few Sanskrit Krithis. The most famous among his Sanskrit compositions are the Kamakshi Navavarana Krithis praising his family Deity Goddess Kamakshi. These are
| Kriti | Raga | Tala | Chakra | Remarks |
| Sriganeshwara | Shanmukhapriya | Adi | - | Invocatory piece on Lord Ganesha |
| Vanchasi yadi kusalam | Kalyani | Adi | - | Dhyana kriti |
| Santatam aham seve | Desakshi | Adi | Trilokya mohana | 1st Avarana |
| Bhajasva sritripurasundari | Nadanamakriya | Adi | Sarvasha paripooraka | 2nd Avarana |
| Sarvajeeva dayapari | Suddhasaveri | Misra Chapu | Sarvasamkshobhana | 3rd Avarana |
| Yogayogeswari | Anandabhairavi | Khanda Triputa | Sarvasowbhagya dayaka | 4th Avarana |
| Neelalohitaramani | Balahamsa | Khanda Dhruva | Sarvartha sadhaka | 5th Avarana |
| Sadanandamayi | Hindolam | Khanda Matya | Sarvaraskhakara | 6th Avarana |
| Sakalaloka nayike | Arabhi | Adi | Sarva rogahara | 7th Avarana |
| Sankari srirajarajeswari | Madhyamavati | Adi | Sarvasiddhi pradayaka | 8th Avarana |
| Natha jana kalpavalli | Punnagavarali | Adi | Sarvanandamaya | 9th Avarana |
| Haladharanujam | Manirangu | Adi | - | Mangala kriti |
Each of these composition is drenched in devotion. The English meaning of these Krithis is given in
Translations of some songs of Carntic music
With best wishes, Ramachander
