Muthuswami Dikshitar

Also: Dikshitar, Guruguha

◐ Confidence: medium Last verified: 12 Oct 2026

Period

1775 or 1776 to 1835 (birth year differs between sources; Wikipedia gives 24 March 1776, another source gives 24 March 1775, and Sruti gives 1775)

Language(s)

Sanskrit, Manipravalam

Biography

Born at Tiruvarur, he is one of the Trinity. He studied under Chidambaranatha Yogi, according to the sources checked, and was a veena player. He signed his compositions with the mudra Guruguha, and died in 1835.

Notable contributions

About 500 compositions are credited to him, mostly kritis, often in sets such as the Kamalamba Navavarana kritis and the Navagraha kritis. His songs have a gamaka-rich, veena-like style. His brother Baluswami Dikshitar is credited with pioneering the violin in Carnatic music.

Notable works (titles only)

• Kamalamba Navavarana kritis (set)
• Navagraha kritis (set)