Question

Explain the mudras used by Patnam Subramanya Iyer and Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar.

Hint:

Mudras like "Venkatesa" and "Srinivasa" serve as spiritual and artistic signatures in kritis.

Answer 1

In Carnatic music, a mudra is a unique signature or symbolic phrase that composers include in their compositions to identify authorship or devotion. Mudra of Patnam Subramanya Iyer:

He used the mudra "Venkatesa" in his kritis.
This refers to Lord Venkatesa of Tirupati and reflects his devotional leanings.
Mudra of Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar:

He used the mudra "Srinivasa" in his compositions.
This was both a personal name reference and a devotional invocation.
Significance: Mudras help identify the composer of a kriti and often express the composer’s devotion or philosophical beliefs.