Syama Sastri

Syama Sastri
Born 1762
Tiruvarur, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu
Occupation Composer
Nationality Indian
Genre Carnatic music
Music of India

A Lady Playing the Tanpura, ca. 1735 (Rajasthan)
Genres
Traditional
Modern
Media and performance
Music awards
Music festivals
Music media
Nationalistic and patriotic songs
National anthem Jana Gana Mana
Regional music

Syama Sastri (also commonly transliterated as Shyama Shastri) (1762–1827) is one of the most renowned composers of Carnatic music. He is the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar being the other two.[1]

Career

SYAMA SASTRI was born to Visvanathayya and Vengalakshmi on April 2, 1762.[2] He was a Telugu speaking Brahmin known as Auttara Vadama. Visvanathayya and his forefathers were archakas in the temple of Goddess Bangaru Kamakshi, Thanjavur. Syama Sastri's actual name was Venkata Subrahmanya.

Although Śyāma Śastri did not compose as so many kr̥ti-s as his two prolific contemporaries, his compositions are still well known due to the literary value. It is said that he composed about three hundred pieces in all.

He did not have many disciples to propagate his compositions, nor was the printing press an easy convenience during his time. More importantly, the scholarly nature of his compositions was not appealing to the layperson, they needed to be studied to be savoured.In his compositions there is a perfect blend of Supreme Bhakti (Utmost Devotion), Manodharma Bhavam with adequate Sahityam, but very important all put into the cup of Absolute Talam (Rhythm).

He composed in Telugu and Sanskrit, mostly on goddess Kamakshi.

He composed kritis, varṇa(s) and svarajati(s) with the ankita or mudra (signature) Śyāma Krishna. He was probably the first to compose in a new form of the svarajati musical genre. Prior to this, the svarajati was primarily a dance form, and was close in structure to the dance Varṇaṃ (padavarṇaṃ).

His set of three famous svarajati(s) are intended to be sung in concert rather than danced, and are sometimes referred to as "Ratnatrayam" (Three jewels). They are in ragas Bhairavi, Yadukula kambhoji and Todi, and are called Kāmākṣhī Anudinamu, Kāmākṣhī Padayugamē, and Rāvē himagiri kumāri, respectively. The former two are set to Miśra Cāpu Tāḷa, while the third is set to Ādi Tāḷa.

He was known for his ability to compose in the most complex of Tāḷa(s).[3] He was also known as "Talaprasthara Shyama Sastri" in music circles in those days. He was as adept in composing in rare ragas as he was in composing the popular ones. Anandabhairavi is considered to be his favourite raga. He was widely revered for his voice and singing ability during his time.

Descendants

Syama Sastri's son, the illustrious Subbaraya Sastri (1803–1862), had the unique privilege of learning under each of the trinity. His kritis with the signature 'Kumara' are known for encapsulating the entire structure of a raga in the space of a single composition. Syama Sastri's adopted grandson, Annasvami Shastri (1827–1900), was also a fine composer.

Compositions

The below sections mention some of his compositions.

Svara Jati

Composition Raga Tāḷa Language Description
Kāmākṣhī anudinamu maruvakanē
కామాక్షీ అనుదినము మరువకనే
Bhairavi Miśra Cāpu Telugu
Kāmākṣhī padayugame sthiramaninē
Yadukulakamboji Miśra Cāpu Telugu
Rāvē himagiri kumāri
రావే హిమగిరి కుమారీ
Todi Ādi Telugu

Kriti

Composition Raga Tāḷa Language Description
Śaṅkari Śaṃkuru candra mukhī
Sanskrit: शङ्करि शंकुरु चन्द्र मुखी
Telugu Script: శఙ్కరి శంకురు చన్ద్ర ముఖీ
Sāvēri Ādi – Tiśra Gati Sanskrit
kanaka śaila vihāriṇī
Sanskrit: कनक शैल विहारिणी
Telugu Script: కనక శైల విహారిణీ
Punnāga Varāḷi Ādi Sanskrit
Birāna varālicci brōvave
బిరాన వరాలిచ్చి బ్రోవవె
Kaḷyāṇi Ādi – Tiśra Gati Telugu
Dēvī brōva samayamu
దేవీ బ్రోవ సమయము
Cintāmaṇi Telugu
Himādri sutē pāhimāṃ
హిమాద్రి సుతే పాహిమాం
Kaḷyāṇi Ādi Sanskrit
Māyammā yani nē pilacite
మాయమ్మా యని నే పిలచితె
Ahiri Ādi Telugu
Mari vērē gati evvarammā
మరి వేరే గతి ఎవరమ్మా
Anandabhairavi Miśra Cāpu Telugu
Nannu brōvu lalitā
నన్ను బ్రోవు లలితా
Lalita Miśra Cāpu Telugu
O jagadambā nannu
ఓ జగదమ్బా నన్ను
Anandabhairavi Ādi Telugu
Pārvati ninu nē nera nammiti
పార్వతీ నిను నే నెర నమ్మితి
kalkaḍa Telugu
Sarōja daḷa nētri himagiri putrī
సరోజ దళ నేత్రి హిమగిరి పుత్రీ
śaṃkarābharaṇaṃ Ādi Telugu
Tallī ninnu nera namminānu vinavē
తల్లీ నిన్ను నెర నమ్మినాను వినవే
Kaḷyāṇi Miśra Cāpu Telugu

See also

References

  1. P. Sambamoorthy, Great Composers, pp69–94. (Madras: The Indian Music Publishing House)
  2. http://www.carnaticcorner.com/articles/shyama.html
  3. Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 231.
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