Ramaswami Dikshitar
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Ramaswami Dikshitar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1735 Virinjipuram near Vellore, Tamil Nadu |
| Died | 1817 (aged 81–82) Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu |
| Occupation | Carnatic music composer |
| Children | 4, including Muthuswami |
| Relatives | Subbarama Dikshitar (great grandson) |
Ramaswami Dikshita (IAST: Rāmasvāmi Dīkṣita, 1735–1817)[1] or Dikshitar[a] was a South Indian composer of Carnatic music and the father of Muthuswami Dikshitar. He was a member of the courts of Amarasimha (r. 1787–98) and Tulaja II (r. 1763–87) of Thanjavur.[2]
Ramaswami Dikshitar was instructed in music and music theory by Melattur Veerabhadrayya and Venkata Vaidyanatha Dīkshitar, a grandson of Venkatamakhin, author of the Chaturdandiprakashika. His ragamalika using 108 ragas and talas is notable and the longest of its type. He also composed varnams in a variety of ragas. He is popularly considered the creator of the raga, Hamsadhvani. Others believe that he was the first to create a composition using it which made it popular. His son Muthuswami Dikshitar's acclaimed work, Vatapi Ganapatim was composed using the same raga.[2]
Besides Muthuswami, Ramaswami Dikshitar had two other sons, Chinnaswami and Balaswami, and a daughter, Balamba. Balaswami's grandson was the composer and scholar, Subbarama Dikshitar.[3]