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Panchakshara Gawai (2 February 1892 – 11 June 1944) was a blind singer from
Gadag Gadag-Betageri is a city municipal council in Gadag district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Gadag District. The original city of Gadag and its sister city Betageri (or ''Betgeri'') have a combined cit ...
,a town in North
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Also known as 'Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai'. He was born at Kadashettihalli in
Hangal Taluk Hangal, is a historic town in Karnataka, It is away from Hubli through NH 766E. Location Hangal lies about south of the city of Hubli-Dharwad, about west of the Tungabhadra river and east of the Arabian sea. It is located on state road o ...
, Karnataka. The Kannada film
Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai ''Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai'' is a 1995 Indian Kannada-language biographical film, directed by Chindodi Bangaresh and produced by Chindodi Leela. Starring Lokesh in the titular role, the film also featured Girish Karnad and V ...
is based on his life.


Life history and contributions

Ganayogi Pandit Panchakshara Gavayi was a great Hindusthani musician and Guru from Karnataka. His birth name was Gadigeyya. Born blind, Gadigeyya and his elder brother Gurubasava both had melodious voice and Musical talent. They were able to play many instruments. Pleased by their Musical abilities, Sri Kumara Swamiji of Hanagal came forward to arrange proper Musical training for them. A Musician from Tanjaore taught Carnatic Music to these children for some time. Their next Guru was one Bheemarao, also for a short time. Then one Sri Gadigeyya of Shiralakoppa was their Guru for 8 years. When boys returned to Hanagal after Musical training, Kumara Swamiji was happy, but boys were keen to learn more. Blind boy Gadigeyya went to Mysore to continue music studies. He learnt under Vidwan Venkataramanayya for 4 years. Gadigeyya became popular in Mysore. He then returned to Hanagal. He sang at all India Veerashaiva convention and got accolades. Kumara Swamiji gave him a new name ‘Panchakshara Gavayi’. Next, Panchakshara Gavayi started to learn Hindusthani Music from Ustad Abdul Vahid Khan, who was a famous singer of Kirana Gharana. Advanced training was under Pandit Neelakanthabuva Mirajkar, Ramakrshnabuva Vaze and Baburao Rane. Panchakshara Gavayi grew and became popular as an expert in both Carnatic and Hindusthani Music styles, along with Tabla. As per Kumara Swamiji’s command, he started training blind and orphan children in Music. There were more than 100 children in his mobile Music school. When Kumara Swamiji started ‘Kumareswara Krpaposhita Sangeeta – Sahitya Mahavidyalaya’ in Rona, Panchakshara Gavayi became its chief. Obeying his Guru’s wish, he remained bachelor to serve less privileged people. He established a drama company by the name ‘Sri Kumareswara krpaposhita Sangeeta Nataka Mandali’ and started to give shows, thereby lightening the financial burden of feeding hundreds of children. A rich devotee of Gadag, Sri Basarigidada Veerappa, donated his land and built an Ashram there for Gavayi. This Ashram is the famous ‘Veereswara Punyashram’, which is now like a pilgrimage centre for Music lovers. Thousands of blind, poor boys have learnt Music here and doing their service to Music all over the country. Many students of Panchakshara Gavayi have become famous musicians. To name a few, Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru, Pandit Puttaraja Gavayi, who lead the Ashram after his Guru, Pandit Somnath Mardur and so on. Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavayi pledged his life for society, Music and uplifting of downtrodden. He breathed his last on 11 June, 1944. ‘Gana Visharada’, ‘Gana kalanidhi’, Sangeeta Sagara’, ‘Sangeeta Samrat’, ‘Ubhaya Gayanacharya’ – these are some of the titles conferred on him by various organizations.


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* Blind musicians Hindustani singers People from Gadag-Betageri 1892 births 1944 deaths Indian blind people People from Haveri district 20th-century Indian male classical singers Singers from Karnataka {{India-singer-stub