Tirtha Narayana Yati

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Tirtha Narayana Yati, also known as Narayana Teertha, was a revered 17th-century Telugu sanyasin of the Advaita Vedanta tradition, born as Tallavajjhala Govinda Sastry in Kaza, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. He is widely recognized as a foundational figure in the evolution and systematization of the modern Kuchipudi dance form. Narayana Yati authored the monumental Sanskrit opera, "Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini," a literary masterpiece that narrates the life of Lord Krishna from his birth to his marriage with Rukmini. His significant contribution to Indian classical dance lies in his innovative inclusion of rhythmic dance syllables, known as 'tarangams,' at the conclusion of the cantos within the "Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini." This made the work highly suitable as a libretto for dance-dramas, and these tarangams have since become an integral and popular component of Kuchipudi performances, notably featuring dancers performing intricate footwork while balancing on the rim of a brass plate. He lived for a period in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, where he presented his dance-drama in the Tanjore temple, eventually settling in Varahur on the banks of the Kaveri River. Tradition credits Tirtha Narayana Yati, along with his prominent disciple Siddhendra Yogi, with initiating, methodizing, and arranging the present-day version of Kuchipudi. His compositions, rich in lyrical quality and rhythmic beauty, are known to evoke the nine 'Rasas' and form a crucial part of Indian classical dance and music. He is also considered a significant contributor to the Carnatic music tradition and a forerunner to Tyagaraja. Narayana Yati attained Siddhi in 1745 at Thirupoonthuruthy, a village near Varahur.