Brain Stimulators

BRAIN STIMULATORS 1 - QUESTION AND ANSWERS
    
SAHITYA
1)     In which composition is Krishna referred to as "Rowhineya Anuja"?
Ans : Siddhi Vinayakam  (Raga Chamaram) by Muthuswami Dikshitar.
   
2)     In which composition is Devi described as being worshipped by Sanskrit 'Geervana Vandita'?  
Ans : Parvati Ninnu (Raga Kalgada) by Syama Sastri
    
3)     In which Kriti is the unparliamentary word "harami" used?
Ans : Edutanilichite (Raga Sankarabharanam) by Tyagaraja
   
 BHAVA
1)     Identify the composition in Raga Khamboji, which amounts to a Nindastuti, composed by Tyagaraja.
Ans : Mari Mari Ninne
  
2)     In which Kriti is the most-effective Nayaki Bhava of Tyagaraja seen?  
Ans : Kanulu Tagani (Kalyanavasantam)
  
3)     Identify a Kriti of Dikshitar in which he prays for liberation.
Ans : Guruguhaya (Sama)
     
RAGA
1)     What is an Ekaika Raga Kriti?
Ans : An Ekaika raga kriti is one which is the sole kriti in that Raga
   
2)     Which Raga is absolutely exclusive to Syama Sastri?  
Ans : Chintamani
   
3)     How many "Manohari" Ragas are there?
Ans : Twelve

TALA

1)     How many kritis in Kambhoji Raga are set to Khanda Ata Tala?
Ans : Three
      
2)     Other than compositions by Muthuswami Dikshitar, how many kritis are there set to Khanda Eka Tala?  
Ans : Three, one each by three composers
   
3)     Who was the master composer of Sooladis?
Ans : Purandaradasa
   

LOCATIONS

1)     How many kritis on Devi Meenakshi of Madurai have been rendered by Syama Sastri?
Ans : Nine - the Navaratnamalika series
            
2)     Name the Srirangam Pancharatna Krithis of Muthuswami Dikshitar.  
Ans : Ranganayakam (Nayaki), Sri Ranganathaya (Dhanyasi), Rangapura Vihara (Brindavanasaranga), Sri Ranganatham (Poornachandrika) and Sri Bhargavi (Mangala Kaisiki).
    
3)     Identify the four shrines, to which, Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Sastri  all three have dedicated compositions.
Ans : 

             (i) Devi Kamakshi (Kanchipuram)

(ii) Sri Varadaraja (Kanchipuram)

(iii) Devi Dharmasamvardhani (Tiruvayyaru)

(iv) Devi Neelayatakshi (Nagapatnam)

  
PARAMPARA
1)     Which great teacher is said to have produced "Pancharatnas"  five great disciples?
Ans : Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar
(Disciples were Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer, Sarabha Sastri, Patnam Subramania Iyer, Fiddle Venkoba Iyer and Tyagaraja (grandson of one of the trinities, Tyagaraja)
    
2)     Apart from Walajapet, Umayalpuram and Lalgudi branches  there was one more Tyagaraja Parampara. Identify it.  
Ans : Tillaisthanam parampara
           
3)     Who was the direct guru of Mysore Vasudevachar?
Ans : Patnam Subramania Iyer