Dikshitar’s home gets a facelift

The abode of one of the celebrated Carnatic music trio, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, in Thiruvarur is getting a facelift. His dilapidated home is under reconstruction. While the reconstruction is underway, the statue of Dikshitar has been shifted to the home of another music doyen Shyama Shastri and the rituals are traditionally followed for Dikshitar there, said
Mr. Kasinathan, who maintains Syama Shastri’s birthplace.

Says Mr. Kasinathan, “Sri Muthuswami Diskshitar’s own Kristi is played for his worship and ritual. The building has to be reconstructed according to certain aspects so that when the Kriti is played there must be no echo inside the building. The sunlight and rays need to enter the building and it is one of the important aspects. Besides, no doors must be kept for the windows of their place.”

As Mr. Kasinathan narrates, Dikshitar’s story is an epic that inspires us: when his brother Baluswami Dikshitar called him to Ettayapuram there was no rain for more than 10 years, so he sang a Kirti Anandhaburadha Varshini on Swami Aambal and there was a rainstorm and downpour. Then to stop the rain, he had to sing Sathambikai Kriti.

When he turned 60, he received darshan of Lord Thanga Annapoorani Aambal to his surprise and called his followers to compose a Kriti called Meenakshi Mamudham Devi. While singing this Kriti, it is said, he embarked on his final journey.

Article by

Pradeep Eswar K.
Thrisha T.
Janani V.
Shamyuktha T.
Rieugleen R.