Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Biography 
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a South Indian poet and composer of 18th century and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music. About 500 of his compositions under chowka kala are noted for their contemplative nature and still used by Carnatic vocalists. He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha. The musical trinity consists of Muthuswami Dikshitar, Tyagaraja and Syama Sastri. Unlike the rest two, his compositions were mostly done in Sanskrit and a few in manipravalam (a combination of prose and poem). His visions of some of the ragas are still the final word on their structure. Most of those works were done in praise of deities of the temples he visited.
Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in Tiruvarur as the eldest son to a Tamil Iyer Brahmin couple Ramaswami Dikshitar and Subbamma. He was born in Kritika (karthika) star in the Tamil month Panguni. He was named after the temple deity, Muttukumaraswamy. Muthuswami learnt Sanskrit and Vedas as per Brahmin tradition. He learnt music from his father as well. He has gone to a pilgrimage with monk Chidambaranatha Yogi during his teens. Such experiences of North India have influenced a lot in his works later. His Guru died at Varanasi, after presenting him a veena.
According to legend, before death, his guru asked Muthuswami to visit Tiruttani. While he was doing meditation, a man came near him, asked to open his mouth and put a sugar candy into his mouth. His first composition "Shri Nathadi Guruguho" in the raga Mayamalavagowla was born. He visited Kanchi, Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram, Tirupathi and Kalahasthi and returned back to his hometown. He learnt Veena and its influence can be found in his compositions as well.
He composed on every deity in the Tiruvarur temple complex including Tyagaraja and presiding deity Nilotpalambal. Kamalamba Navavarna composed by Dikshitar is very famous. He composed Navagraha Kritis in praise of the nine planets. He passed away in 1835 on a Diwali day. It was the descendants of his brother Baluswami who have preserved his musical legacy.
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Updated: January 07, 2014
