THE ETERNAL PILGRIM- MUTHUSWAMI DIKSHITAR-by RAVI-SRI









It is rarely that a phenomenon takes place in the world. An epoch-making event of far-reaching consequence that would change the course of history. The advent of sages, saints, great men of science, sacred men of art, have all heralded new beginnings in their respective realms. In the world of Indian art music, the advent of Shyama Sastri, Thyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar changed the course and perception of music. The harbingers of a new age in classical music, the threesome are reverentially referred to as the Trinity of Carnatic music. Not without reason, the foremost of which was their being born in the same town and being contemporaries.
MUTHUSWAMI DIKSHITAR, THYAGARAJA AND SHYAMA SASTRY

 But this was not the only reason. Their pioneering work was such that after their times, Carnatic music was never the same again.
Looking at their works, one finds a unity of purpose behind them.

 This unity of purpose is reflected in the fact that the Trinity refined the medium of the kriti and made it into a wholesome entity. They also brought into vogue several ragas that had fallen into oblivion. 

That they adopted almost the same methods and utilised the same tools speaks volumes about this unity of purpose. All the more reason why, they are hailed as incarnations whose specific task was to elevate the art form into a true rasAnubhavA. The art form as an experience that would ennoble the heart and lift the soul of man to greater heights. 

The purpose of an incarnation is to transcend and transform. 

Shyama Sastri, Thyagaraja, and Muthuswami Dikshitar transcended the mundane and transformed the way music was handled.

 The Trinity proved to the world through their music and through their exemplary lives, that the sole purpose of music was to make man perfect and help him realize his unity with God.
 
Muthuswami Dikshitar was one of those rare beings who graced this earth with his noble presence and who left behind an eternal fragrance that shall never wither, eternal footprints on the sands of time that shall never be effaced. His works of grandeur and depth, both in melody and poesy, afford us a glimpse into the Eternal Soul, the Muse he worshipped, a glimpse of the summit of perfection he attained.

 With devotion we shall try to retell the monumental saga of one of the greatest men that God gave to humanity.
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In order to enable easier accesss to the earlier parts of our "Eternal pilgrim" series on Muttuswami Dikshitar, given below is a contentwise listing of the different parts covering the different milestones in his life starting from his birth. 
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1
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RAMASWAMI DIKSHITAR , BIRTH OF  MUTHUSWAMI  DIKSHITAR  AT THRUVAARUR

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2
MANALI AND TO KAASI WITH CHITHAMBARANATHA YOGI


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3

RETURN FROM KAASI TO MANALI


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4
THIRUTTHANI AND GURUGUHA VIBHAKTHI KRUTHIS, KALAHASTHI



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5

THIRUVOTRIYUR, THIRUVALLIKKENI, AND KANCHIPURAM- UPANISHADH BRAMMAM


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6

virinchipuram and THIRUVANNAAMALAI



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8
CHIDAMBARAM


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9
VAIDHEESWARAN KOIL, 
MAAYAVARAM, ..ABHAYAMBA VIBAKTHI KRUTHIS


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10
THIRUVAARUR..
THYAGARAJA VIBAKKTHI KRUTHIS

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11
THIRUVAARUR...
KAMALAMBA NAVAAVARNA 
AND 
NEELOTHPALAMBA VIBAKTHI
KRUTHIS

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13....THIRUVAARUR..NAVAGRAHA KRUTHIS


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PART-14...
.KUZHIKKARAI AND MANNAARKUDI


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PART-15..
NEEDAAMANGALAM, 
KUMBAKONAM,
 SWAMIMALAI,
THIRUVIDAIMARUDHUR,
MAYAVARAM

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16..
PULIVALAM, 
KIVALUR, 
NAAGAI, 
VEDARANYAM


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PART-17......TRICHY , THIRUVAANAIKKA


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18..
..SRIRANGAM, KULITTHALAI,THIRUCHENGODU

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19....THANJAAVOOR


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21....
THIRUVAIYARU..
..DIKSITAR MEETS 
THYAGARAJA SWAMI

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-

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22....
.MADHURAI, AZHAGAR KOIL, THIRUPPARANKUNDRAM

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PART-23..
PUSHPAVANAM(THIRUPPUVANAM)
RAMESWARAM-
THIRUPPULLANI-SAATTUR-ETTAYAPURAM.
24---THIRUNELVELI AND LAST DAYS
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end


Part 1

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Part 2

 Early days at Tiruvarur and marriage

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Part 3

 Manali to Kashi (with Chidambaranath Yogi)

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Part 4 


The vINa and back to Manali

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Part 5 

Tiruttani and the guruguha vibhakti kritis


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Part 6 


Chennai and Kanchipuram

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Part 7 


Virinchipuram and Tiruvannamalai

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Part 8


 Chidambaram


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Part 9 


Vaideeswaram, 
Mayavaram and the 
Abhayamba vibhakti kritis


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Part 10 

Return to Tiruvarur


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Part 11 

Tiruvarur,
 Lord Thyagaraja and Thyagaraja Vibhakti kritis 


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Part 12 

Tiruvarur,
 composition of 
Kamalamba navavaranam, 
Neelotpalambika kritis and 
shodasha ganapati kritis



Part 13 
Tiruvarur,
 the master of astrology composes the navagraha kritis




Part 14 
Places around 
Tiruvarur,
 Kuzhikkarai and 
composition of shri viswanatham ragamalika, 
Mannargudi




Part 15 

Needamangalam,
 Kumbhakonam, 
Swamimalai, 
Tiruvidaimarudur,
 Mayavaram and 
important shrines around Kumbhakonam and Mayavaram



Part 16 
Around Tiruvarur,
 Pulivalam, 
Kivalur,
 Nagapattinam,
 Vedaranyam, 


demise of his parents



Part 17 

Tiruvarur,
 Trichy, 
Tiruvanaikkaval



Part 18 

Srirangam, 
kshetras around the cauvery( Ratnagiriswara, Kadambeswara, Maragateswara), 
Tiruchengode and arrival at the Chola capital Tanjavur.



Part 19 

Tanjavur, association with Syama Sastry and composition in all the 72 melakarta ragas




Part 20 

Tiruvaiyyaru and meeting with saint Tyagaraja, return to Tanjavur and to Tiruvarur




Part 21 

Passing away of Chinnaswami,

 Madurai and holy shrines around it



Part 22 

Rameswaram, 
Tiruppullani and 
journey to Ettayapuram




Part 23 

Ettayapuram, 
Baluswami's wedding,
 Madurai,
 Palani en route to 
Tiruvarur



Part 24 

Back to Ettayapuram, 

shrines at 
Kazhugamalai, 
Sankarankovil,
Tiruchendur, 
Tirunelveli.


 Deepavali of 1835 when he merged in the Eternal Soul.
==============================================

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