Subbaraya Sastri

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for the mystic/occultist (d. 1941), see Vaimanika Shastra.

Subbaraya Sastri (1803 - 1862) the son and student of Syama Sastri, one of the most famous figures in the history of Carnatic music. He also has the unique distinction of having studied music from all the three of the musicians now acknowledged as "the Trinity of Carnatic Music": his father, and the master musicians Tyagaraja and Muthuswamy Dikshitar.

Subbaraya was born in 1803 as the second son of Syama Sastri. He studied music initially from his father. Later Syama Shastri asked Tyagaraja to teach his son and sent Subbaraya to him. He also had the opportunity to learn a few krithi from Muthuswami Dikshitar. He also learnt Hindustani music from Meru Goswami, a musician of the Thanjavur palace, and from Ramadas Swami who was a recluse and who lived in Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam.

Subbaraya Shastry composed only a few krithi. But their technical quality, beauty, devotion and intricacies have made them enduring and famous. Subbaraya Sastri composed most of his kritis in praise of the Mother Goddess. Some of his famous kritis are Janani ninnuvina (Reetigowla), Ninnusevinchina (Yadukulakambhoji), Venkatasailavihara (Hamirkalyani)