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 Shyama Shastri

Shyama Shastri

A commemorative postage stamp on Talaprasthara Syama Sastrioldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, with Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar :

Syama Sastri (श्याम शास्त्री) : Trinity of Carnatic musicIssued by India

Issued on Dec 21, 1985

Issued for : The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp on Shyama Shastri, a great artist of India.

Description of Designs : The 100 p. multicolour stamp of Shyama Shastri has been designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The First Day Cover and the cancellation designs have been prepared by Nenu Bagga.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall Size : 4.06 x 2.73 cms.

Printing Size : 3.71 x 2.38 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 15,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

Name : Syama Sastri

Born on Apr 26, 1762 at Tiruvarur, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Feb 6, 1827 at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

About : 

  • Shyama Shastri, eldest of the “Trinity” of Carnatic Music was born in Tiruvarur on the 26th April, 1762. He was educated in Sanskrit and Telugu and is said to have learnt the rudiments of music from his uncle. The family moved to Thanjavur in 1781 and here he came under the influence of a Sanyasi Sangitha Swami, and mastered the intricacies of the art. His knowledge was also enlarged by association with Pachchimiriyam Adiyappayya, the Court musician. In spite of the reluctance of the family to let him adopt a musical career, he made great progress both as a musician and as a composer and eventually came to be reckoned as one of the “Trinity” of Carnatic Music.
  • Shyama Shastri‘s compositions are original and have a style of their own. They are in slow tempo and the Raga (melody type) delineated in a few clear phrases full of Raga Bhava. He has composed both in well known and rare Ragas but he chose Ragas whose form is depicted more by Sancharas (movements) and gamakas (graces) than by the bare notes. He was also a master of Laya (Rhythm) and we find unusual inversion of beats in some of his compositions in Misrachapu Tala. It is said that he had won musical contests by his command over laya. Swarajati which was basically a dance form was developed by him into a beautiful musical form fit for concerts.
  • His compositions are in praise of Goddess Kamakshi and Minakshi and are in Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil (Shyama Shastri was the only one among the Trinity to have composed in Tamil). The songs have the signatureShyama Krishna. Though he was named Venkata Subrahmanya, he was called by the pet name ‘Shyama Krishna‘ which he adopted as the ankitam.
  • Shyama Shastri was a highly creative artist. The melodic form of his composition is strikingly original, unconventional and free, rich in emotional content. His compositions are in common ragas like Todi, Dhanyasi, Kambhoji, Yadukulakambhoji, Sankarabharanam and Kalyani and in uncommon ragas like Kalagada, Karnataka Kapi, Manji and Chintamani. He is acclaimed as the architect of the musical form, SvarajatiShyama Shastri has also composed nine Kritis in praise of Minakshi, the Deity of the temple in Madurai. This group is called NavaratnaMalika.
  • Shyama Shastri passed away on February 6, 1827 when he was only 65 years.
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