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Galaxy of Composers

PRE-TRINITY COMPOSERS

BHADRACHALA RAMADAS (1620 - 1688)

Background: Named Gopanna by his parents Linganna and Kamalamba, he became known as Ramadas (Das meaning servant or slave), because of his deep devotion to Lord Rama.

Region: He belonged to Nalakondapalli, a small village Andhra Pradesh.

Contribution: He composed in the keertana form (the precursor to the Kriti form) and his songs contain multiple Charanams. Tyagaraja seems to have been a great admirer of Ramadasa’s devotion to Rama and praises him in a few of his compositions. His language is very simple and music very pleasing. His works include Manache Sloka, Dasabodha and Sundara Kandam of Ramayana.

Theme: The theme was predominantly devotion.

Languages used: Mostly Telugu and occasionally Sanskrit.

Signature: He used several mudras like Bhadrachala, Bhadradri or Bhadragiri.

Popular Compositions: Emayyarama (Kambhoji), Rama dayajudave (Dhanyasi), Paluke bangara mayena (Anandabhairavi), Nannubrovu (Kalyani) etc.

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