🎵 Vaageyakara Vaibhavam
Sangeetalahari takes great pride in organizing the history-rich Vaageyakara Vaibhavam, honoring the triumvirate—Narayana Teertha Purandhara dasa, and Swathi Thirunal—whose timeless compositions embody the Golden Age of Carnatic music.
They lived in three entirely different centuries, representing the foundational, transitional, and golden eras of Carnatic music:
The Carnatic Trinity
Purandara Dasa (1484–1564): Lived during the Vijayanagara Empire. Known as the Sangeeta Pitamaha (the grandfather/founder of Carnatic music), he laid the very first bricks of the art form.He wrote thousands of Devaranamas dedicated to Lord Vittala (Krishna)
Narayana Teertha (1650–1745): Lived during the Maratha rule of Thanjavur. He acted as a bridge, introducing highly theatrical, operatic Sanskrit musical structures. He wrote the legendary Krishna Leela Tarangini, a Sanskrit musical opera detailing the life of Krishna from birth to marriage.
Swathi Tirunal (1813–1846): Lived during the 19th century. As a royal patron and genius composer, he absorbed the musical frameworks perfected by his predecessors and adapted them into the modern concert format.
Purandara Dasa standardized the music system by introducing the beginner raga Mayamalavagowla and creating structural lessons (Svaravalis, Alankaras, and Geetas).
Narayana Teertha and later Swathi Tirunal utilized this structured raga framework to compose complex kritis and multi-layered musical forms.
Narayana Teertha's Tarangams are inherently theatrical and are the core repertoire for Kuchipudi dance dramas. Swathi Tirunal collaborated extensively with the Thanjavur Quartet to format classical music specifically for Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam. He effectively did for Kerala's dance forms what Teertha did for Andhra/Tamil Nadu's traditions
What to Expect
- A tribute through vocal and instrumental performances celebrating Trinity compositions
- An immersive experience into Carnatic music tradition
- A gathering of musicians united by passion and artistic discipline
- An opportunity for performers to shine and connect through music
26th Anniversary Event Details
| Date: | Saturday, August 29th 2026 |
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| Timings: | 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Location: | SV Lotus Temple, Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA |
| Registration: | Registration is Closed for this event. Program Schedule |
Are You an Indian Classical Music Artist?
Whether you're a vocalist or instrumentalist in the Indian Carnatic tradition, we’d love to connect with you! Over the years, Sangeetalahari has brought together a vibrant network of artists — many of whom have formed successful performance groups through our events.
If you are interested in performing or accompanying students during our events, please sign up through our website. Carnatic music teachers are always looking for skilled accompanists and collaborators, especially for our Annual Programs.
Special Thanks
Sincere gratitude to SV Lotus Temple for their continued support in making this milestone event possible.