Govinda Dikshita
Encyclopedia
Govinda Dikshitar was the minister of three successive Nayaks of Thanjavur
, who ruled the region of Thanjavur in South India
between the 16th and 17th centuries CE.
, the remnants of which are believed to exist. This versatile genius and erudite scholar composed Arivamsa Saracharitram and Sangitha Sudhanidhi(a treatise on music). He is credited with the construction and repair of the Amman shrine of Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram
. The sculpture of Dikshitar and his wife, holding their hands in adoration, are found in the mandap in front of the Amman shrine.
families for fostering art and learning. Other fertile villages were encouraged to become seats of music and learning as Nayaks gifted them to Telugu
families. Muvanallur, Tepperumanallur, Sulamangalam, Uthukadu and Saliyamangalam can be cited as examples.
, constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam, he added a commercial corridor between the new temple and the older Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam
.
Thanjavur Nayaks
Thanjavur Nayaks were the rulers of Thanjavur principality of Tamil Nadu between the 16th to the 17th century C.E. The Nayaks were subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors, and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided the Tamil country into three...
, who ruled the region of Thanjavur in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
between the 16th and 17th centuries CE.
About the scholar
Govinda Dikshitar was a scholar, philosopher, statesman and musicologist. He served as a minister under Achuta Nayak and Ragunatha Nayak, the rulers of Tanjore in the 16th century. He lived in a palatial house in PatteeswaramPatteeswaram
Patteeswaram is a village, eight kilometres from Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The village was named after Patti, the calf of Kamadhenu, the divine cow in Hindu mythology.- Patteswaram village :-Temples:...
, the remnants of which are believed to exist. This versatile genius and erudite scholar composed Arivamsa Saracharitram and Sangitha Sudhanidhi(a treatise on music). He is credited with the construction and repair of the Amman shrine of Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram
Patteeswaram
Patteeswaram is a village, eight kilometres from Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The village was named after Patti, the calf of Kamadhenu, the divine cow in Hindu mythology.- Patteswaram village :-Temples:...
. The sculpture of Dikshitar and his wife, holding their hands in adoration, are found in the mandap in front of the Amman shrine.
Carnatic Music
Dikshitar is spoken of as 'One of the Trio of Theoreticians' of modern period; the others being Ramamatya and Somanatha. The Nayaks brought with them the glorious tradition of their country to the fertile regions of river Cauvery. The Nayaks donated an entire village to 500 BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
families for fostering art and learning. Other fertile villages were encouraged to become seats of music and learning as Nayaks gifted them to Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
families. Muvanallur, Tepperumanallur, Sulamangalam, Uthukadu and Saliyamangalam can be cited as examples.
Construction
Dikshitar is believed to have constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam. In 1620, when Govinda Dikshitar, divan-administrator for the NayaksNayak dynasty
Nayak dynasties emerged after the downfall of Vijayanagara Empire. The Nayaks were originally military governors under the supervision of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the battle of Talikota, several of them declared independence...
, constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam, he added a commercial corridor between the new temple and the older Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam
Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam
Chakrapani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. In the temple, Lord Vishnu appears in the form of a discus or Chakra to put down the pride of Surya, who subsequently became his devotee....
.