Mysore Sadasiva Rao

Who was Mysore Sadasiva Rao?

Mysore Sadasiva Rao was a composer of Carnatic music in the traditions of Tyagaraja. He was a prominent vocalist in the court of the king of Mysore, India. He is credited with developing the 'Mysore style' of carnatic music.

Sadasiva Rao was born in a Smartha Brahmin family. He had his musical training under Venkataramana Bhagavatar, a pupil of Tyagaraja. He was brought to the Mysore court by his patrons and introduced to the Mysore king Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. The king, impressed by Sadasiva's singing, made his a court musician.

Sadasiva Rao has composed mostly in Telugu. He went on a pilgrimage of south India and composed krithis at all the temples he visited. Some of his compositions are, Devadideva, Gangadhara Tripuraharana and Paramabhuta Maina. Sadasiva Rao used the mudra 'Sadasiva'.