2006: Latest addition: Oct 7, 2006.
Added some varnams. Krithis: Okapari (Kharaharapriya), Ranjani Mrudu Pankaja {Ranjanimala} (ragamalika), Vadera (Panthuvarali), Rama Ninnu Nammina (Mohanam), Mahalakshmi (Shankarabharanam), Meenakshi Me Mudam (Purvi Kalyani), Parameshwara (Nattai), Koluvamaregada (Thodi). Thanks to Vidya Subramanian for the audios of tapes of her renditions of Lalgudi Varnams and for notations of Ranjani maala.

Jan 2005: Added notations for Nambikettavar (Hindolam) and Janakipathe (Kharaharapriya) . Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the original!

Dec 2004 Removed realaudio zip files (given the ra and mp3 formats, and lack of downloads of this format). Included PDFs of notations in addition to Word/HTML. Will get back to adding more class and notations content during the holidays and more in Spring 2005 (i have been very busy due to the birth of my twins last summer, and getting adjusted to parenthood). Running a December special on the 6-CD set.

Early Sept 2004 : More navigation hyperlinks and Added search bars to offer a convenient exit point from the web site. Google searches originating on this site leading to *valid* ad clicks indirectly support this web site. Valid clicks on the google ads on the websites also support the site.

Aug 21st, 2004: Added Entani Ne (Mukhari), Sogasuga (sriranjani), and Parvati Pathim (Hamsadhwani). Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the original version of Entani Ne. In process: Kurai Onrum Illai (ragamalika), Annapurne (Sama), Padavini (Salaka Bhairavi), Vidulaku Mrokkeda (Mayamalavagowla), Toli Janmamula (Bilahari), Vaarana mukha Vaa (Hamsadhwani), Vinave O Manasa (Vivardhini)... Should be up online soon... Some of the notations and originals are up online.

ORIGINALS
Aug 14th 2004 Due to popular requests, I am adding selected originals (MP3s) of the songs starting from "A". It will take me a while to dig out my MP3s, or record to MP3 if I have analog versions etc. The originals will stay on the website tentatively : my goal is to provide a reference for students and rasikas (to complement my classes and notations based upon these originals). I have been falling behind in putting up a reference version of the song in addition to the "class" or "detailed" versions, and what better reference version than the original itself! The originals convey the depth, bhava and energy which I simply cannot capture in my "class" based commentaries and they should inspire students to learn these songs. Some of these originals are available from other websites like musicindia.com etc for quite a while.

Going forward, I will not be including commercially available songs in my 6-CD set. The rest will be included only as a reference (to complement the classes) and to the best of my knowledge should not infringe on any commercial tapes/CDs. I have a lot of respect for the artistes and their wishes. If I hear a request from an authorized representative of the artistes (or the artistes themselves) asking me to remove their original pieces from the site, those MP3s will be taken out. On the other hand, I strongly believe that the availability of these songs, associated with the classes of their versions will increase their fame and spur students and rasikas to their concerts and adopt their styles (bani). I would encourage users of this website to also give back to the artistes by attending their concerts and buying their CDs/tapes.

Errata in Varnams and Meanings of varnams have been updated. Thanks to Dr. Aruna Turaga from California for her kind help in doing the translation and word-by-word meanings!

Aug 14th (contd): ICICI bank transfer/remittance option available now for CD-set purchase. This is a very convenient and smooth form of payment (especially for people in India, middle/far-east). The procedure is that you can transfer an amount to my father's ICICI bank account in India and I will send you the CD-set etc. You need to send me email so that I can give you the ICICI bank account information (i dont want to put it publicly on the web). In any case I need your address by email!

June-July 2004 I am out of commission for a while due to the birth of my twins, Vaishnavi and Shambhavi. Will get back with more updates on the web page in a couple of months or so. Also added Amazon "Click to Give" link. The Amazon 1-click system can be used to purchase the CD set now (this is very convenient if you have a credit card or payment method registered with Amazon.com -- just one click to pay). But remember to email me your address -- Amazon does not give me this info!

Mar 10-12th, 2004: Updated word-by-word meanings for the Pancharatnas: thanks to Jayasri Akella for the word-by-word meanings! Added classes for Ranganayakam (Nayaki), Dharma Samvarddhani (Madhyamavathi), Parama Pavani (Atana). Thanks to my mother (Smt. Geetha Kalyanaraman) and my wife (Sharanya) for transcribing word-by-word meanings for these songs. Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the original for Parama Pavani. These classes have more alapana content in them (i.e. exploration of alapana phrases from the krithis). Set up a link for frequent users . Thanks to Karthik Lakshminarayanan for preparing a FLYER for the archives' web pages. If you find these archives useful, kindly download this flyer and drop off a few copies at your local temple, music concert, aradhana celebrations or even a local indian store!

Feb 18th, 2004: Added class for Chintayamaa (Bhairavi), and set up google search keyword links .

Jan 25th, 2004: Added meanings for Vishnu Sahasranamam (Audio Narration). Upto Stanza 30.

Dec 25, 26, 27th, 2003: Added a comprehensive set of beginners' lessons: sarali, janta, dhatu, melsthayi, alankaras. Added Raravenu (swarajati). Added some professional renditions of varnams (Bombay Sisters and M.S. Subbalakshmi) as reference (especially for comparison after you have learnt the "class versions"). Added songs: Jnanamosagarada (Purvi Kalyani), Ela Nee Daya Raadu (Atana), Krupaya Palaya (Charukesi), Samaja Vara Gamana (Hindolam), Manasa Sancharare (Sama), Rama Nipai (Kedaram), Paridhana Micchithe (Bilahari) and Prakkala Nilabadi (Kharaharapriya).

Nov 28th, 2003: Added Intro to Carnatic Music (4 parts): audio and music illustrations based upon Ramesh Mahadevan's articles. Kicked off a "basics/elementary lessons" addenda to the varnams/geethams page -- this page (basics, geethams, varnams) will be expanded substantially over Dec. Also reorganized the varnams and geethams. The CD-ROM set is now up to 5 CDs for $30.00.

July 30-31st, 1-2 August, 2003: Added Rere Sriramachandra (Geetham: Arabhi), Sri Kamalambikayah (Bhairavi: navavarnam krithi), Sri Kamalambike Shive (Sriragam: navavarna mangala krithi), Kamalambikayai (Kambodhi), Kamalambam Bhajare (Kalyani), Kamalambike (Thodi), Kamalamba Samrakshatu (Ananda Bhairavi), Sujana Jeevana (Khamas), Chintayamaa (Bhairavi: pancha linga kshetra krithi), Sri Ramachandra (Bhairavi Geetham).

July 22nd, 2003: Added a section on Navavarna Krithis lyrics, and specifically a class on Sri Kamalambikaya (Sahana).

Jul 11-13th, 2003: Added Ninnukori (Vasanta Varnam), Viriboni (Bhairavi Ata Tala Varnam), Kamalajathala (Kalyani Geetham), Sri Mahaganapathi (Gowla). The archive has now crossed over to 4 CD-ROMs (about 2.7GB!). Inaugurated the Manodharma web page (with a large number of sample alapanas, swarakalpanas, neraval, tanam, viruttam, ragamalikas etc) . At a later stage I plan to add classes on these manodharma topics.

mid-&-last Week of June, 2003: Added Analekara (Geetham: shuddha saveri), Varaveena (Geetham: Mohanam), and Vishnu Sahasranamam (based upon MSS rendition: an experiment!). Fixed up meanings etc of Ambaneelayatakshi, Angarakam, Apparamabhakthi, Chetasri, Chintayamaa.

1st Week of June, 2003: Added Sadachaleshwaram (Bhupalam) and Pamarajana Palini (Simhendramadhyamam).

May 31th, 2003: Added Kamakshi Sri Varalakshmi (Bilahari) and Enduku Nirdaya (Hari Kambodhi), Emaanadicchevo (Sahana), Antaranga Bhakti (Shadvidhamargini). Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the "song" versions of Kamakshi, Emaana and Antaranga.

May 20th, 2003: Added Manamuleda (Hamir Kalyani), Maa Ramanan (Hindolam). Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the "song" version of the latter.

April 19th, 2003: Added Soundararajam (Brindavani), Dasharatha Nandana (Asaveri), Budhamashrayami (Nata Kuranji, Navagraha krithi), and Chandram Bhaja (Asaveri, Navagraha Krithi). Thanks to Ram Kaushik for the "song" versions of the navagraha krithis.

April 5th, 2003: Added SriKanchinayike (Asaveri). Thanks to my friend Ram Kaushik for the "song" version.

Feb 21, 2003 weekend: added paratpara (vachaspati), brahma kadigina (mukhari) and paraamukham yennaiyya (kharaharapriya). Thanks to my friend Ram Kaushik for the "song" versions of the latter two krithis.
* Added a link to karnatik.com's "basics" lessons web page, and a couple of more interesting sahitya links (sangeetham.com and Todd McComb's web pages).

Feb 15, 2003 weekend: added rangapuravihara (Brindavana saranga), neebhajana (nayaki), divakara tanujam (yadukula khambodhi), chakkani raja (kharaharapriya), dakshinamurthe (shankarabharanam), ramabhirama (durbar), venuganaloluni (kedaragowlai), saragunapalimpa (kedaragowla) classes;
* Added this "whats new" link to help you identify latest/new songs to download...
* Added some extra navigation points to help you quickly jump around within the page.
* Added Paypal service for the Tyagaraja CD-ROM ordering

Feb 8th, 2003 weekend: added Seethapathe (khamas), Kalaharana (shuddha saveri), Ninne Nera (panthuvarali) classes;
* Added a "recommend-to-friend" link...

Month of January: added .zip formats, updated mp3 formats, setup CD-ROM set ordering web page, about 10 songs and classes added....