Shadkala Govinda Marar

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Govinda Marar (Malayalam:ഗോവിന്ദ മാരാര്‍)(1798 - 1843), more famously known as Shadkala Govinda Marar was a Carnatic Musician from Kerala, India. He was a contemporary of Saint Tyāgarāja and Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. He was also adept in playing musical instruments like Chenda,Edakka and Thimila. His expertise in singing in six degrees of speed earned him the title Shat Kaala.

Portrait of Shadkala Govinda Marar by Raja Ravi Varma
Portrait of Shadkala Govinda Marar by Raja Ravi Varma

Contents

[edit] Early life

Govinda Marar was born in 1798 in Ramamangalam village in Kerala.His parents belonged to community of Marars who performed the traditional singing in the temples of Kerala. He took to singing from a very early age. He received his musical lessons from Haripad Ramaswamy Bhagavathar[1].

He is said to have used a Tamburu having seven strings.[2] At the age of 21, he left his home to begin a life of wandering. He is believed to have sung in many important temples all over Kerala.[3]

[edit] Swati Thirunal's Court Musician

[edit] Meeting with SaintTyāgarāja

[edit] Death

After leading the life of a wandering for a long time, he reached the temple of Panduranga in Pandharpur,Maharashtra. He was revered as Paramahamsa Govinda Das. The temple records note that he attained Samadhi in 1843.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kerala Gov-Music
  2. ^ Kerala Gov-Music
  3. ^ Shadkala

[edit] External links

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