UPSC CSE Prelims
Carnatic Music Tradition Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Carnatic Music Tradition with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?
Detailed Explanation:
Indian classical music has two major traditions: Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian). Many ragas in these systems have equivalent scales.
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Dheera Shankarabharanam in Carnatic music is equivalent to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music.
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Both use all Shuddha (natural) notes and correspond to the Western Major Scale (Ionian Mode).
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Nat Bhairavi, Kamavardhini, and Hanumatodi correspond to other Hindustani thaats/ragas.
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Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong
| Option | Hindustani Equivalent | Why Incorrect? |
|---|---|---|
| Nat Bhairavi | Asavari Thaat | Not equivalent to Bilawal |
| Kamavardhini (Pantuvarali) | Poorvi Thaat | Different note structure |
| Hanumatodi | Bhairavi Thaat | Different scale |
| Dheera Shankarabharanam | Bilawal Thaat / Raga Bilawal | ✅ Correct Answer |
With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :
- Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
- Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
- Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
- Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 4 only
This question tests knowledge of two prominent Carnatic music composers and their contributions. Only statements 2 and 4 are factually correct regarding Tyagaraja's compositional innovations and Annamacharya's devotional focus.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Most of Tyagaraja's kritis are devotional compositions in praise of Lord Rama, not Lord Krishna.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Tyagaraja is credited with creating several new ragas and enriching Carnatic music with his innovative compositions.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Annamacharya (1408-1503 CE) and Tyagaraja (1767-1847 CE) were not contemporaries; they lived approximately three centuries apart.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Annamacharya's kirtanas are devotional songs primarily in praise of Lord Venkateshwara (Balaji) of Tirupati.
📝 Short Notes: Saint Composers of Carnatic Music
| Composer | Period | Deity | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annamacharya | 1408-1503 CE (15th century) | Lord Venkateshwara (Tirupati) | Composed over 32,000 sankirtanas; considered the first known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas; pioneer of Carnatic devotional music |
| Tyagaraja | 1767-1847 CE (18th-19th century) | Lord Rama | Part of the Trinity of Carnatic music (with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri); created new ragas; composed over 700 kritis; his Pancharatna Kritis are considered masterpieces |
| Muthuswami Dikshitar | 1775-1835 CE | Various deities | Known for compositions in Sanskrit; explored complex ragas; one of the Trinity |
| Syama Sastri | 1762-1827 CE | Goddess (mainly Kamakshi) | Master of rhythmic patterns; composed mainly in Telugu; one of the Trinity |
| Purandara Dasa | 1484-1564 CE | Lord Krishna (Vittala) | Father of Carnatic music; systematized teaching methodology; composed over 475,000 songs |
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