Competition Guidelines for 2025 Finals
Namaskarams!!
Guruguhaamrta is proud to present the 2025 competition of Muddusvami Dikshitar kirtanams for students of vocal music. Year after year, the competition has gained credibility and interest among the student and musicians’ community for its serious, focussed and academic approach to the works of Dikshitar. Winners are awarded Tambura and Cash prizes.
The following are the Kirtanam specific guidelines for the 2025 Finals of the competition.
Common Kirtanam Guidelines for ALL categories (Sub Junior, Junior and Senior)
Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini (SSP) - Is widely regarded as the Most Authentic Source of Kirtanams composed by Sri Muddusvami Dikshitar
1. For the Finals, Kirtanams Chosen MUST be listed in the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini (SSP). Before preparing for the finals, please verify if the kirtanams you are preparing are in the SSP. You can use the link below to check the listing of Kirtanams in SSP.
Link to Listing of SSP Kirtanams - Click Here
2. While the Kirtanams chosen for the Finals should be listed in SSP, the patantharam and (version) of the Kirtanams can be as taught by the Guru
2. Kirtanams NOT listed in the SSP are NOT allowed for the Finals
3. No Manodharmam (Aalapana, Neraval and Swarams) required.
4. Participants are expected to know about the Musical and Lyrical aspects of the Kirtanams (same as Prelims)
5. The judges may ask to sing any of the Kirtanams on a whole or a section of multiple Kirtanams.
6. No time limit
Kirtanam Guidelines for Sub Junior and Junior (In addition to common guidelines above)
1. No. of Kirtanams to be given at the time of competition
SubJunior - 3 Kirtanams (All listed in SSP)
Junior - 5 Kirtanams (All listed in SSP)
2. List of Kirtanams given for Prelims could be given as long as they are listed in SSP
3. If you had given Kirtanams NOT listed in SSP for the Prelims, please ensure your finals list contains the Kirtanams only from SSP.
Kirtanam Guidelines for Senior Category (In addition to common guidelines above)
1. No. of Kirtanams to be given at the time of competition
Senior - 10 Kirtanams (all listed in SSP) + Any one of the following Kirtanams below:
1) mangalambayai namaste - malavasri (Notation - Click Here)
2) namo namaste girvani - girvani (Notation - Click Here)
3) meenakshi memudam dehi - gamakakriya (Notation - Click Here)
The notation from English Version of SSP for the below Kirtanams are available in the links above:
2. At least one kIrtanam from the above 3 as per your Guru's interpretation of above notation provided is mandatory - if you learn more than one, it would be an added bonus as well.
This is over and beyond the ten kIrtanams that you would come prepared with. For the 10 kIrtanams, you are free to come with the same list as prelims or change it as well.
3. For the 3 Kirtanams listed above, you are required to work with your respective Guru, to sing this as per the notation provided as interpreted by your Guru. If your Guru certifies that he/she has set this up as per the notation provided and that it is their interpretation for teaching you, that would suffice.
4. List of 10 Kirtanams given for Prelims could be given as long as they are listed in SSP
5. If you had given any of the 10 Kirtanams NOT listed in SSP for the Prelims, please ensure your finals list contains the Kirtanams only from SSP.