Nandanar Charitra Keerthanais

நந்தனார் சரித்திரக் கீர்த்தனைகள்

Abstract

Among the line of composer-singers who blended with Tamil and sang praises of God through music, GopalakrishnaBharati occupies a highly revered place. Living contemporaneously with the trinity of Carnatic music—Tyagaraja, MuthuswamiDikshitar, and SyamaSastri—Bharati made his mark in Tamil music history by composing keerthanais in Tamil. Although he composed many songs in praise of ThillaiChidambaranathar, it is the NandanarCharitraKeerthanais he authored that remain his immortal contribution and unique identity in the world of music. The aim of this article is to explore the special qualities of these NandanarCharitraKeerthanai