The Place of the Srivaishnava Community in Karnatic Music

Introdution:

The history of South Indian - Karnatic classical music is replete with many examples of some communities, which have contributed immensely to its development and propagation. Among the Hindus of India, the Brahmins constitute a very minor community. Among them the Srivaishnavas are a microscopic community. This community is generally called Iyengars. It has played an important role in world of music and allied arts of all these centuries. It stands next to Iyer community in this respect. Formerly, this community was mostly confined to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra and some other parts of South India. But now, they are to be found through out India and in some western countries such as US and USA. From Tamil Nadu, they went to other parts of India in search of green pastures. During the last 3-4- centuries this community has of its vocalists, richly contributed by virtue instrumentalists, composers, teachers and writers.

Brief historical background:

South India, in the course of centuries, made signal contributions to the theory and practice of religion and to philosophic thought in its various aspects. It amply repaid the debt, it owed to the North in the sphere of religion and in all matters of spiritual culture. Its saints and seers evolved a new type of bhakti -devotion, a fervid emotional surrender to God. It was bhakti very different from the calm, dignified devotion of the Bhagavatas of the early centuries. From South..................