Shyaamaa Shaastree - This member of the Carnatic Music Trinity was born in 1762 and became well-versed in Sanskrit and Telegu early on. At 18 he moved from Tiruvaaroor to Tanjaavoor with his family and became a great devotee of Bangaaru Kaamaakshi. He began learning music from his uncle but then became a devout disciple of Sangeeta Swaami, and then of Pacimiriam ADiappayyar. Even when young, he began composing keertanams in Sanskrit and Telegu, especially on Fridays, when he meditated in the presence of his favorite deity. One day, when he went to PudukoTTai and offered prayers to the temple, a stranger asked him to go to Madurai and compose a few kritis in honor of the presiding deity Meenaakshi. He began the next day on his journey to Madurai to compose nine kritis, his navaratnamaalika. He is considered the creator of the song form swarajati - originally a dance form, but he made it a beautiful musical piece by removing the jatis. The raagam aananda bhairavi is considered his property because 5 of his compositions expound the raagam so fully. Most of his songs are in Telegu, with a few in Sanskrit and Tamil. He had a preference for the caapu taalam (especially mishra caapu, 4 plus 3). Only 47 compositions in 29 raagams are available today. His disciples include Alasur Krishnayaar, Subbaraaya Shaastree, and TaarangambaDi Pancanaatayyar. He died on February 6, 1827 at 65.

Mudra: Shyaamakrishna

Compositions: