With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements : 1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. 2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. 3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. 4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 and 4 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) 2, 3 and 4
Why the answer is (b)
• Tyagaraja (1767–1847), one of the Carnatic Trinity, composed thousands of kritis in Telugu, overwhelmingly in praise of Lord Rama, not Krishna — statement 1 is wrong.
• Statement 2 is correct: he created and popularised ragas such as Kharaharapriya, Harikambhoji and Devagandhari.
• Statement 4 is correct: Annamacharya (1408–1503) composed about 32,000 sankirtanas in praise of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala.
• Statement 3 is wrong: Annamacharya lived three centuries before Tyagaraja.
• Hence 2 and 4 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong: Tyagaraja praised Rama and lived centuries after Annamacharya.
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
- (d) 2, 3 and 4
- Statement 3 is wrong: they were not contemporaries.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.