UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

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

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

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

• Tyagaraja was an Indian composer of Karnataka songs of the genre kirtan, or kriti (devotional songs) and of ragas. Tyagaraja is said to have composed the music and words of thousands of kriti. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• Most of Tyagaraja’s songs were in praise of Rama, who, like Krishna, is believed to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Tyagaraja became a devotee of Vaishnava at an early age and is regarded as an exponent of jnana marga i.e., salvation through devotional music. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Tyagaraja was born in 1767 CE in Madras Presidency, India, while Annamacharya was a poet saint who lived from 1408 CE to 1503 CE. He was known for heralding the style of pada kavitha, a musical form of padam. So, statement 3 is not correct.
  
  
• The Bhakti poems of Annamacharya are written in praise of the glory of the Lord of the Seven Hills, in which the poet-saint sings in praise of Lord Rama, i.e. Lord Venkateswara, but nevertheless treats him the same as his Lord of the Seven Hills. So, statement 4 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Indian Music