Koteeswara Iyer

Koteeswara Iyer (1869 - 1938), was a pioneer composer of Indian classical music Carnatic music. He was a grandson of Kavi Kunjara Bharati(1810–1896) attributing to a strong lineage of accomplished musicians. He was born in Nandhanur to Nagarathinam iyer who was a Sivagangai Samasthana Sangeetha Vidwan. His ancestors lived initially in Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) and later in Raja Hiranya Garba Thirumalai Sethupathi's village in Perungarai (Ramanathapuram). Koteeswara Iyer studied music under Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (1860–1919) and Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845–1902). He composed mainly in the Tamil language and used the mudra Kavi Kunjara Dasan in tribute to his grandfather. While studying his BA in English Literature in Trichy, Koteeswara Iyer started performing in small Kutcheries singing Kavi Kunjara Bharathi's Skanda Puranam, Perinba Keerthanaigal. Noted devotional singers K. Somu (Somasundaram) and K. Veeramani were the grandsons of Koteeswara Iyer, and thus the great-great grandsons of Kavi Kunjara Bharathi.

Literary works
  • Madurai Pottramarai Pathigam
  • Madurai Shanmugha Malai
  • Sundareshwarar Pathigam
  • KayarKanni Pathitru Pathanthathi
  • Indhiya Maanmiyam

He has worked as an English Professor in Mylai Venkatramana Dispensary Ayurveda College and Mylai Sanskrit college. Later, he worked as an English translator in the Madras High Court.

He is one of the first vaggeyakara who composed songs in all the 72 melakartha ragas. His contribution to the illustration of Vivadhi Ragas is invaluable. He published his grand father's works (Kandapuranam, Azhagar Kuravanji, Perinba Keerthanaigal).

List of Songs composed in 72 Melakartha Raagams

He is one of the few to have composed in all 72 Melakarta ragams. [1] All of his 72 kritis (songs) in the Melakarta ragams are dedicated to his family deity Muruga. [2]

To open the series of 72 kritis, he sought blessings of Lord Vinayaka by composing a prayer song dedicated to Vinayaka, Vaarana mukhava, set to Hamsadhvani ragam and Rupaka taalam.

Name Ragam Talam
1 Kanakaangaka Kanakaangi Adi
2 Tharunam Ithe Ratnaangi Adi
3 Maamathura Gaanamurthi Adi
4 Daasa Nesa Vanaspathi Adi
5 Nijabhakthi Maanavathi Rupakam
6 Va Velava Taanaroopi Khanda Chapu
7 Vandarul Senavathi Misrachaapu
8 Kalitheera Hanumathodi Misrachaapu
9 Karunai Kadale Dhenuka Aadhi
10 Irangatha Naatakapriya Aadhi
11 Sugha Vazhvadainthu Kokilapriya Rupaka
12 Naalaguthe Roopavathi Aadhi
13 Naadha Nilai Gayakapriya Kandachaapu
14 Nambinen Vagulabaranam Aadhi
15 Naan En Seiven Mayamalavagowla Aadhi
16 Kaanakankodi Chakravaakam Rupaka
17 Kanjam Konjum Sooryakantham Aadhi
18 Aalalaghatha Haatakambari Aadhi
19 Varam Thaarum Jhankaradhwani Misrachaapu
20 Ambhoruha Natabhairavi Rupaka
21 Velava Keeravani Kandachapu
22 Kanpaaraiya Karaharapriya Aadhi
23 Paarai GowriManohari Aadhi
24 Srungara Kumara Varunapriya Aadhi
25 Maalaginen MaaraRanjani Aadhi
26 Neethan Appa Chaarukesi Aadhi
27 Malaiyathe Sarasangi Rupaka
28 Neeye Ghathi HariKambojhi Aadhi
29 Enai Aalaiya Shankarabharanam Aadhi
30 Naayen NaagaNandhini Aadhi
31 Sambu Sathasiva Yaagapriya Aadhi
32 Kalankathe Raagavardhini Aadhi
33 Ninaimaname Gaangeyabhooshani Rupaka
34 Nathaanu Vaagadheeshwari Aadhi
35 Paramugha Soolini Aadhi
36 Eddaya Gathi ChalaNaatai Aadhi
37 Gaanamutham Saalakam Aadhi
38 Kanaka Mayura Jalarnavam Aadhi
39 Anaatha Rakshaka JaalaVaraali KandaChapu
40 Saami Ithe NavaNeetham Rupaka
41 Anjathe Pavani Misrachapu
42 Sadhanantha Raghupriya Rupaka
43 Viraivaagave Gavambhodhi Aadhi
44 SethiruVelan Bhavapriya Aadhi
45 Velane Subhapanthuvrali MisraChapu
46 AndharangaBakthi Shadvidamarghini Aadhi
47 Igapara Suvarnaangi Rupaka
48 Appa Murugaiyane Divyamani Aadhi
49 Kaarunya Dhavalambari Rupaka
50 Een Maname NaamaNarayani Aadhi
51 Ka Murugaiyya Kaamavardhini Aadhi
52 Saami Satha Ramapriya Aadhi
53 Ihame Sukham Tarum Gamanashrama Aadhi
54 Paramanandha Viswambari Rupaka
55 Kandha Syamalangi Misrachapu
56 Sugame Sugam Shanmukapriya Aadhi
57 Unnaiyallal SimhendraMadhyamam Aadhi
58 Manathe Hemavathi Rupaka
59 Kandha Bakatha Dharmavathi Misrchapu
60 Mohanakara Neethimathi Rupaka
61 Naadhasugam Kaanthamani Aadhi
62 GhanaNaya Rishbhapriya Aadhi
63 KaiKoodaVenume Lathangi Kandachapu
64 Igaparasooga Vachaspathi Rupaka
65 SadhaNanathame MechaKalyani Aadhi
66 SaamaGhanaLola Chitrambhari Misrachapu
67 VeluMayilume Sucharithram Rupaka
68 GhanamuthaBhanam Jyothiswaroopini Misrachapu
69 SookaKara Dhathuvarthini Aadhi
70 Thantharul Naasikabhushani Rupaka
71 Ka Guha Kosalam Rupaka
72 ArulSeiya Rasikapriya Aadhi

A final closure song to close the series, traditionally called the Mangalam is also composed in Surutti set to Adi tala.

See also

References
  1. "Royal Carpet Carnatic Composers: KOTeeshwara Iyer". karnatik.com. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  2. "The Melaraga Kritis of Koteeswara Iyer".
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