Purandaradāsa (1484–1564) is revered as the “Pithamaha of Carnatic music” for laying the foundation of its teaching system and compositional framework.
                              A saint-composer from Karnataka, he composed thousands of kirtanas and devaranamas in simple yet profound Kannada, expressing intense devotion to Lord Vitthala (Krishna).
                            His compositions blend melodic clarity with deep philosophy, making them accessible to beginners while remaining spiritually and musically rich for advanced musicians.
                            He is said to have composed approximately 475,000 songs (kritis/keertanas), though only about 1,000–2,000 survive today.