Brahmasri Kollegal R. Subramanyam was born on 11th September 1929 at Kollegal, Karnataka to Sri V. Ramachandra Sastry and Smt Venkata Lakshmi. He was married to Smt. K.S.Ashwatha Lakshmi and blessed with two daughters and one son.
SANGEETHA GURU PARAMPARA:
Guru : Ganakala Bhooshana Brahmasri Belakavadi Varada Raja
Iyengar
Parama Guru : Dr L. Mutthiah Bhagavathar
Parameshti Guru : Sri Sambasiva Iyer, Tiruvayyar.
Paraapara Guru : Sri Sri Sri Naadabrahmaananda Sri Thyagaraja
EDUCATION – MUSICAL AND SPIRITUAL
1945: Learnt Carnatic Music (Vocal) under the guidance of Sri R. Balakrishna Iyer at Kollegal in 1945.
1947-1953: Gurukula Sikshana at Bangalore under the benign guidance of Ganakala Bhooshana – Asthana Sangeetha Vidwan, Mysore Brahmasri Belakavadi Varadaraja Iyengar, disciple of Brahmasri Dr L. Muthiah Bhagavathar of Harikesanallur.
1970: Received Unchavrutti Deeksha from Brahmasri Pudukkottai Gopala Krishna Bhagavatha Swamy in March 1970.
1979: Received Sri Vidya Deeksha from Brahmasri A. Rajamani in September 1979.
1967 – 2016: With the blessings of Poojya Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri and Poojya Sri Paramaacharya of Kanchi, he had been relentlessly and successfully conducting Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana, Sri Purandaradasa Vardhanthi, Sri Dikshithar and Sri Syama Sastry Day celebrations every year amidst very challenging vagaries of time and circumstances.
Shed his mortal coils on 6th August 2016.
CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE
1953 Onwards: Settled in Hyderabad and started giving music tuitions and ever since imparted the knowledge of Carnatic Music both technically and spiritually, to an innumerable number of people, some of whom have gone on to be the torchbearers of Carnatic Music, propagating his Bani (style) of music along with his numerous soul-stirring compositions. These compositions are not only technically brilliant but are spiritually enlightening as experienced by most of his disciples.
1953 – 2016: Given several performances in South Canara, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and various other parts of India. Regularly performed in AIR (All India Radio) and Doordarshan of several states in India, particularly South India.
Examiner: Acted as Examiner for B.A. and M.A. in Music conducted by Akhila Bharatiya Sangeetha Maha Vidyalaya, Miraj.
Dance Dramas: Written and composed “Mohini Bhasmaasura”, “Jataayu Moksham” Dance Drama for TV telecast.
Dance Ballet:: Written and composed “Aadi Paraasakti” dance ballet based on Saptasati which was telecast on TV in July 1994 by Smt. L. Vijayalakshmi.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
1967-72: He had been performing Sri Purandaradaasa Vardhanti and Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Keerthanaaradhana Ekaaham.
1972-1986: He had been performing Sri Thyagaraja Aaraadhana every year at his home in Chikkadpally until the Vigraha Prathishta in Chinna Thiruvayyar at Vidyanagar in November 1986.
14- 29 April 1983: Performed Devi Pooja – Chandi Homam and other Homams for 16 days at Swarajya Press, Secunderabad, AP
1986 – Chinna Thiruvayyar – A Milestone: The landmark in his scintillating and illustrious career is the organization and construction of a temple for Saint Sri Thyagaraja Swamy, the first of its kind in the State of Andhra Pradesh. This was done in the premises of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad and came to be known as Chinna Thiruvayyar. The sankalpam for the construction of the temple was made during the time of Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana in the year 1986.
1986 – Foundation Stone for the Temple: The Foundation stone for the temple was laid on Friday 22nd August 1986. Mruthika grahanam (collecting soil) from Sadguru Thyagaraja Swamy’s birthplace at Tiruvaroor was made on Tuesday, 4.11.1986. Samadhi Mruthika (Soil from the Paadukas) to be installed at the Temple was made under the direction and supervision of Poojyasri Paramacharya of Kanchi and handed over to the Committee at Thiruvayyar. Paaduka-Dandam-Kaveri Teertham and Mruthika were brought by him along with his disciples and devotees ceremoniously from Thiruvayyar to Hyderabad. The Vigraha and Paaduka were installed in the Temple and consecrated on Friday, 14th November 1986, under the benign presence of Sri Sri Sri Paramaananda Bharati Swamiji, a disciple of Poojya Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri Peetham. The smiling and graceful face of the Saint Sri Thyagaraja Swamy, full of divine Bhakti Bhaava, is a replica of the one at Thiruvayyar. Therefore, the name “Chinna Thiruvayyar” is very veritable to this holy premises.
Chinna Thiruvayyar – Post Installation: The pedestal of the Vigraha contains several thousand sheets with Sri Rama Nama, written and delivered by hundreds of devotees. The total number of Rama Namas deposited was 2.5 crores and one single octogenarian had contributed more than one crore Rama Nama sheets.
Thyagaraja Aaraadhana at Chinna Thiruvayyar: Since the installation, Sri Thyagaraja Aaaraadhana and other Utsavams are being held in the temple premises. The unique achievement is that the entire cost is being met only through Unchavrutti collections and donations from devotees.
COMPOSITIONS AND BOOKS RELEASED:
Composed about 750 kritis in six languages viz. Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam.
1982: A collection of his compositions was brought out in the form of a booklet “Sthuti Mala” and released by Late Dr. Venkatavadhani Garu. A Felicitation (Sanmanam) Function was arranged by his disciples, well-wishers and connoisseurs of Carnatic Classical Music on this occasion.
1986: “Sri Lalitha Navaavarana Krithi Mala” book was released in both Telugu and Tamil scripts by Brahmasri Pullela Ramachandrudu Garu on 9th February 1986.
1987: Composed “Sri Thyagaraja Sahasra Namaavali” and the Booklet containing this was released on 16th November 1987.
1989: “Sri Purandara Dasa Nakshatra Krithi Mani Mala” book, which was written in Telugu script was released at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Sri Purandara Dasa Vardhanti Day in February 1989. On the same day, Sri Raghavendra Brundavana Seva Samithi, Kakinada conferred on him the title of “Sangeethatma Vedi”.
1991: Composed the 72 Melakarta Devi Kritis titled “Dwisaptadasa Melakarta Devi Kruthi Kusumaadayaaha” during the period 22nd September to 7th October 1991 and brought out in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil languages and presented at the Chinna Thiruvayyar Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Sannidhi as Ekaaham and also during a visit to Bombay in 2009 and his Sathaabhishekam celebrations held at Chinna Thiruvayyar on 27th February 2011.
1994: The First Volume of “Satha Raaga Rathna Maalika” of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy was sung and released on 30 January 1994 during the Thyagaraja Aaradhana Festival.
1995: The Second Volume of “Satha Raaga Rathna Maalika” of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy was sung and released during the Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana festival on 21 January 1995.
1997: During the Thyagaraja Aaradhana festival in January 1997, “Siva Kritis” of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy was sung and the book containing these kritis was released.
1998: The book entitled “Naadopaasanayil Sri Vidya” (Sri Shodashi Nitya Devi, Sri Lalitha Navavaranam, Shaddarshana Vidya-Shadaadhara Devi and Dasa Maha Vidya Devi Kritis) containing 50 krithis written by him in Tamil script and published by “Chaitanyananda” of Rochester, New York, USA was released on 2nd November 1998 at Sri Raja Rajeshwari Peetham, 33 Park Circle, Rochester, New York, NY 14623, USA. The same book was released on 5th November 1998 by His Holiness Abhinavoddanda Nrusimha Bharati Swamiji of Pushpagiri Peetham at Sri Sri Naadabrahmananda Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Sannidhi at Chinna Thiruvayyar, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad on the occasion of the 12th Prathishtapana Pushkara Mahotsavam of Sadguru Thyagaraja.
2004: “Upa Ghana Raaga Pancharatna Krithi Mala” extolling the life history of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy was written and composed by him and the book, in Telugu and Tamil script, was released on Sri Thyagaraja Aaraadhana Day in January 2004.
2007: “Sri Ranga Panchakam” book in Tamil and Telugu scripts and the CD is sung by his disciples was released on Thyagaraja Aaradhana day in January 2007.
2008: “Sri Shankara Vijayam” and “Bhuvaneswari Aavaranam” books along with CD Albums and Naadopaasanayil Sri Vidya CD Album was released on 27th January 2008 during the Thyagaraja Aaradhana festival.
2009-2016: He went on to compose 51 kritis on “Devi Shakti Peethams” and 64 kritis in Telugu on “Sri Valmiki Kruta Ramayanam” which are yet to be released.
TITLES AND HONOURS RECEIVED :
1983: On 15th August 1983 the title “Nada Brahma Kala Ratnam” was conferred on him by a reputed music institution, Nada Brahma Vidyalayam at New Delhi.
1989: Sri Raghavendra Brundavana Seva Samithi, Kakinada conferred on him the title of “Sangeethatma Vedi” on Sri Purandaradasa Vardhanti Day in February 1989.
1992: On 17th March 1992, the title of “Tatva Swara Sekhara” was conferred on him by Swara Sudha Samskruthika Samstha, a reputed music organization.
1995: On 2nd December 1995, he was felicitated by the then Hon. Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao for his selfless service to music.
1996: On the auspicious day of Ugadi in 1996, the title of “Sangeetha Sudha Nidhi” was conferred on him jointly by Dittakavi Venkateswara Rao, Swara Sudha and Sri Thyagaraja Gana Sabha.
1997: On 6th June 1997 the title of “Kala Vipanchee” was conferred on him by the Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna (MBK) Trust at the Music Academy Hall, Chennai on the occasion of the birthday of Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.
1999: Reputed Tara Cultural Association felicitated him on 26th January 1999 at the Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Hyderabad.
1999: On 25th March 1999, i.e. on Sri Rama Navami Day, Brahmasri Sivananda Moorthy felicitated him with Cash and Memento of Sri Rama Lakshmana Hanuman and praised his services and construction of the temple for Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja.
Dwaraka Peetadhipathi Sri Sri Sri Vidyaranya Theertha Swamiji of Bangalore felicitated him for his valuable works in Sri Vidya through music and for his service to music.
1999: On 20th November 1999 the prestigious title of “Sangeetha Mahamahopadhyaya” was conferred on him by the Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai during their “Traivarshik Sangeet Sammelan” at Nasik.
2000: On 19 May 2000 His Holiness Sri Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamigal of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sarada Peetham felicitated him at Sringeri in appreciation of the various works composed and sung by him, such as the Lalitha Navaavarana Kruthi Maala, Sringeri Sarada Keethana Mani Mala, Vyasapuri Saraswathi, Nava Durga, Mani Pravala Keerthanas, Sri Sringeri Varnana Shadraaga Maalika Kruthi, Guru Vandana Krutis etc. The Lalitha Navaavarana Kritis were sung by Swaranjali Group, Mumbai on this occasion. The Swamiji described them to be very rich in Sahitya Bhavaa and very melodious.
2002: In September 2002, he was invited for a Lecture Demonstration on “Music Therapy” at Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai.
2003: On 26 January 2003, he was conferred the title of “Sangeetha Vignana Ratna” on the occasion of the 26th year of Sri Thyagaraja Aaradhana Mahotsavam by Vignana Samithi, Anandnagar, Khairatabad, Hyderabad.
2004: The Kalladaikurichi Sri K.N. Harihara Sastri Memorial Sri Vidyopasana & Naadopsana Research Centre, Chembur, Mumbai, conferred on him the title of “Sri Vidyopaasaka Sreshtha” on 11 September 2004.
2007: The Rithambara Trust, Chennai conferred on him the title of “Sri Vidya Naadopaasaka Sreshtha” on 24 May 2007.
2008: Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam, Chinna Thiruvayyar, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad, conferred on him the title of “Sri Naadopaasanaacharya Brahma” on 4 February 2008 during the Aradhana mahotsavams.
2008: The Hyderabad Music Circle, Secunderabad conferred on him the title of “Sangeetha Kalaamani” on 10 February 2008.