Muthuswamy Dikshitar was born in Tiruvarur, near Thanjavur, on 24 March 1775. The poet and composer lived and travelled widely throughout India and composed over 500 songs.
The Dikshitar Aradhana, organized every March at the samadhi or memorial, the final resting place of Muthuswamy Dikshitar, the legendary composer of Carnatic music.
“Dikshitar has always fascinated me,” says Ravikiran. “Learning his compositions is almost like love at first sight. There’s something about them that draws you in.”
The annual event began in 2012 when Ravikiran invited some of his musician friends to Ettaiyapuram to sing at the composer’s samadhi. Ten people turned up.
During the Aradhana, soloists, veena players, violinists, and groups performed 59 Dikshitar compositions, each singing one or sometimes two or three songs.