FAQ on Swathi Thirunal   

When did Swathi Thirunal live?    
Who were his parents?  
Did Swathi Thirunal have brother(s) and sister(s)? 
Who was Swathi Thirunal's wife?
Did Swathi Thirunal have children?
Did Swathi have a lineage of Musical & Cultural accomplishments? 
Has descendents of Swathi been famous musician/composers?
What are the various ragas in which Swathi Composed? 
Did Swathy compose in rare ragas? 
At one time there was a controversy on authorship Swathi compositions and even an argument that Swathi Thirunal never existed.  Is there away basis for these allegations?
What is Swathi's Mudra?  
Does Swathi use raga mudras?
Which are the most popular Swathi Compositions?
Does Swathi refer to himself or family in kritis?  
What are different forms of compositions attempted by Swathi?  
Which languages did Swathi use?   
  Which Festivals are conducted in memory of Swathi promoting Swathi krithis?
Which Institutions exist in name of Swathi?   
Where can I get maximum information on Swathi?

Which are the top musicians who excel in singing Swathi Kritis ?  



When did Swathi Thirunal live? 
  

Swathi Thirunal was born on 16th 1813 under the asterism “Swathi” (Chothi) and died on  25th December 1846, living for a span of 33 years and 8 months. 11 days after the demise of Swathi, saint Thyagaraja too passed away.  He was a contemporary of the Trinity of Carnatic Music, as indicated below. Also shown below are some other prominient composers of the century.


Who were his parents?   

Changanasseri Raja Raja Varma Koithampuram, a Sanskrit scholar, was his father.  Gouri Lakshmi Bhai was his mother.  She ruled Travancore from 1810 to 1814.    

Did Swathi Thirunal have brother(s) and sister(s)?    

Yes. Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma (who succeeded him in the Throne) was his younger brother and Ayilyam Thirunal Rugmini Bhai was his elder sister.

Who was Swathi Thirunal's wife?    

Thiruvattar Amma Veettil Paanapillai Ayikutti Narayani Pillai was Swathi's first wife.  Later, he is said to have accepted Thanjavoor Sugandhavalli alias Sugandha Parvathi Bhai  as his wife.   

Did Swathi Thirunal have children?   

Yes. A son named Anandapadmanabhan Thampi was born to him and Narayani in the asterism Chithira.  No information is available regarding Suganda Valli.   

Did Swathi have a lineage of Musical & Cultural accomplishments?    

Very much.  He belongs to the Chera dynasty, the founder of which is believed to be author of Chilappathikaram.  More close to his life time, his grand uncle, Dharma Raja (Karthika Thirunal) was the author of Balarama Bharatham, a treatise on Natya.  His close relative Irayimman Thampi was a composer, poet and Kathakali exponent.  Thampi's daughter was also a composer (Kutty Kunju Thankachi).  Even Swathis' sister has composed one song.  His brother has written an Aattakatha.   

Has descendents of Swathi been famous musician/composers?    

Swathi's sister's son, Aayilyam Thirunal, who later became the king of Travancore in 1860, was an accomplished musician.  The mother of the last Travancore Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal, Sethu Parvathi Bhai was a great scholar of music & fine player of veena. In the current times, the prince of the Travancore family, Sri Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma has risen as an accomplished vocalist who has already given numerous concerts all over the world.   

What are the various ragas in which Swathi Composed?   

There are 106 ragas in which he composed.  Please see the "Select Composition by Raga" link.

Did Swathy compose in rare ragas?    

A few.  Swathi's repertoire of rare ragas is not as impressive as Thyagaraja's or Deekshithar's.  Among the rare ragas are Saindhavi, Kukubha, Jingala, Abhang, Sohani, Deep, Bhooshavali, Desakshi, Sudha Bhairavi, Poorvi Kambhoji, Manji, Behag and Mohana Kalyani.  The last two are not seen used by anyone of the Carnatic composers before Swathi.  In Behag he has composed many pieces, and seems to have been his favourite non-conventional raga.  Mohanakalyani is believed to be invented by Swathi.

At one time there was a controversy on authorship Swathi compositions and even an argument that Swathi Thirunal never existed.  Is there away basis for these allegations?    

Let us answer the second question about existence of Swathi first.  Look at the exhaustive historical records included in this web site and come to your own conclusion!  

On authorship of Swathi kirthis, the controversy is blown out of proportion (believed to be out of some very personal grudge entertained by an otherwise great musician).  Out of 381 compositions listed in this site, a handful of compositions may be of mistaken attribution.  This is due to the fact that, as a king, Swathi did not have a Sishya parampara.  He had many composers in his court like Shadkala Govinda Marar, Irayimman Thampi, Vadivelu, Ponnayya, Palakkad Parameswara Bhagavathar and it is quite likely that  some of their  contributions were wrongly attributed  to Swathi (and other way round also?).  The common mudra used by Thampi, Parameswara Bhagavathar etc has increased the confusion.   

There have also been cases of modifications or tuning of composition by others.  Bhavayami Raghuramam orginally in Saaveri was modified into a Raagamaalika by Chemmangudi Sreenivasa Iyyer.  Lalgudi G.Jayaraman tuned the Thillana "Geethu Dhunikku Thaka Dheem" in Dhanasri and made it immortal.  Dr.M. Balamurali Krishna has tuned the Thillana "Tham Tham" in Bhoopalam and is seen to have added Sahithya to it with both Swathi's (Padmanabha)  and his own mudra (Murali)  incorporated. Even if all compositions where there is even a shade of doubt is kept out, the remaining gems are enough to make Swathi a great Vaggeyakara.   

What is Swathi's Mudra?    

Swathi has used the word "Padmanabha" or synonyms like Sarasijanabha, Jalajanabha, Kanjanabha, Pankajanabha etc.  This is like Deekshithars' "Guruguha" and in contrast with Thyagaraja's use of own name and Shyama Sasthri's "Shyama Krishna".  There are also a handful of compositions of Swathi which do not have his mudra.   

Does Swathi use raga mudras?

Yes, but selectively. Most of his pada varnas have raga mudras. Some Keerthanas, Slokas and Hindustani Kritis have raga mudras. Among ragas he has used as mudras, we find Saveri, Varali, Kalyani, Sankarabharanam, Hamsadhwani, Revagupthi, Kamdamanohari, Tharangini, Mohanam, Lalithapanchamam etc.

Which are the most popular Swathi Compositions?

Hmm…it seems this anonymous writer has to make a personal selection. Here it is for you:

Keerthanas:

Sara Saksha – Panthuvarali
Sarasa Sama – Khamas
Ma Mavasada – Kanada
Deva Deva – Maya Malava Gaula
Deva deva – Poorvi Kalyani
Pankaja Lochana- Kalyani
Smarajanaka- Behag
Sarasijanaabha – Thodi
Padasa – Kamboji
Sree Kumara – Atana
Parma Purusha – Vasantha
Gopalaka – Bhoopalam

Varnams:

Chaleenada – Sankarabharana

Sarasijanabha – Kamboji

Soonna Sayaka – Kaapi

Hindi:

Visveswara – Sindhu Bhairavi

Padams:

Alarsara- Surutti

Aliveni-Kurinji

Thillana:

Geethu Dhuni- Dhanasri

Does Swathi refer to himself or family in kritis?   

Very rarely and indirectly, Yes.  In some songs (Paahi Parvatha - Aaarabhi) he refers to "Vanchi Nripaalaka Vamsa Shuobhodaya" - One who brings rise in well-being to the king of Vanchi, or Travancore.  In Jaya Jaya Padmanabha-Sarasaangi and Bhogindra Shaayinam-Kuntalavaraali, he mentions the name of his illustrious ancestor, Marthanda Varma, the maker of modern Travancore.   

What are different forms of compositions attempted by Swathi?   

In this respect and in respect of language use, perhaps no one can compare favourably with Swathi.  He has composed Varnams, Pada Varnams, Javalis, Thillanas, Bhajans, Khyals, Tappas, Dhrupuds, Keerthanas, Padams, Swarajathis, Raagamalas and Slokams.   

Which languages did Swathi use?   

Swathi was conversant with use of English, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi and Persian.  Of these, he composed in Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada (In Kannada only one composition).   

Which Festivals are conducted in memory of Swathi promoting Swathi krithis?

  • Swathi Festival organized by Sree Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Sabha, Thiruvananthapuram at Thiruvananthapuram during April every year.
  • Swathi Thirunal in the Kuthira Maalika, palace built by Swathi, organized by the Royal Family of Travancore, every year in April.
  • Swathi Festival organized by the All India Radion Kerala stations during April.
  • Navarathri Festival organized by the Sree padmanabha Swamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram during October-November every year, on the occasion of the Paikunni festival, from the times of Swathi Thirunal.
  • May other music societies and academics all over India

Which Institutions exist in name of Swathi?   

Sree Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Sabha

Sree Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha College

Where can I get maximum information on Swathi?

 Well, this web site is surely a big start! In addition, see the Links & Resources Page.   

Which are the top musicians who excel in singing Swathi Kritis ?     

Palakkad K.V. Narayanaswami, Chemmagudi Sreenivasa Iyer, Musuri Subbramanya Iyer, G.N. Balasubrahmanyam, Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, M.D. Ramanathan, M.S. Subhalakshmi, Dr. S. Ramanathan, Maharajapuram Santhanam, M.L. Vasanthakumari, D.K. Pattamal, D.K. Jayaraman, T.K. Govindarao, T.N. Seshagopalan, Madurai Mani Iyer, T.V Gopalakrishnan, Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Dr.K. Omanakutty, Sri Aswathi Thirunaal Rama  Varma, Radha Jayalakshmi, Bombay Sisters, Delhi Sisters, Bombay S. Jayasree, Dr.K.J. Yesudas, and the list has been, and is growing............    


                                      


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