With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following st

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

  • Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
  • Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
  • Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
  • Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 3 only
2 and 4 only
1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
The correct answer is B.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Most of Tyagaraja’s Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Rama, not Lord Krishna. He is one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music and a prominent figure in the Bhakti tradition.
Statement 2 is correct. Tyagaraja is credited with composing thousands of Kritis and is known for creating several new ragas and developing existing ones, significantly contributing to the structure and theory of Carnatic music.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Annamacharya (Tallapaka Annamacharya) lived from 1408 to 1503, while Tyagaraja lived from 1767 to 1847. They were not contemporaries; Annamacharya preceded Tyagaraja by over two centuries.
Statement 4 is correct. Annamacharya was a prolific composer of kirtanas (devotional songs), predominantly in Telugu. He is considered the Andhra Pada Kavita Pitamaha (Grandfather of Telugu song-poetry) and composed thousands of songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala.
Tyagaraja, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri, are considered the “Trinity” of Carnatic music, significantly shaping its form and content. Annamacharya’s compositions are considered the earliest examples of devotional songs in South India and are widely sung even today in temples, particularly at Tirumala.