Mysuru: Senior musician and a renowned music teacher in the city, Vidu. M.L. Bharathi, and her students will be celebrating this year’s Aradhana of the saint composer Sri Purandaradasa through a concert at Mysore Vasudevacharya’s residence near Agrahara tomorrow (Jan. 29) at 10.30 am.

Purandaradasa (c. 1470-1564) is aptly referred to as the ‘Pitaamaha’ (father) of Karnatak Music, for having safeguarded the pure Indian music system against the onslaught of the influence of the western (Arabian) system.

He is credited with having widened its base so as to take the scholarly classical art form to the masses and help the system sustain itself and thrive forever.

He is believed to have formulated the primary lessons and have provided a methodical format for teaching the art, which continues to be followed even to date, nearly five centuries since his days.

It is acknowledged that his compositions have influenced a galaxy of later composers, including the famed trinity — Tyagaraja, Shyama Shastry and Muthuswami Dikshitar.

Hence, Purandaradasa’s day is celebrated with gaiety and reverence all over Karnataka and in many places across South India, usually along with that of Sri Tyagaraja.

This year’s Purandaradasa Aradhana falls on the ensuing Wednesday. The occasion is being celebrated at the residence of Mysore Vasudevacharya, by Vidu. Bharathi and her team with a music programme presenting devaranamas and Tyagaraja’s ‘Pancharatna kritis.’ Incidentally, Mysore Vasudevacharya is a third generation composer in the lineage of Sri Tyagaraja.