Lineage & Parampara
The spiritual, Nama-Sankeertana, and musical lines of transmission
In the Indian tradition, knowledge is transmitted through paramparā — an unbroken chain of guru and disciple. Thiruvaiyaru S R Krishnan stands at the intersection of three such chains: a spiritual lineage, the Bhagavan Nama-Sankeertana tradition, and a musical lineage now spanning four generations.
Spiritual Lineage
Kanchi Mahāperiavā
Jagadguru Sri Shankarāchārya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham · HH Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati
Spiritual Master.
Thiruvaiyaru Srinivasa Raghava Krishnan
Sangita Acharya
Also trained under Kaladi Subramanya Shastrigaĺ, Anna N Subramanya Iyer, and Vidwan C Jagannāthachāriār.
Nama Sankeertanam
Sampradaya Gurus
Kumāramangalam Srinivasa Raghavan; Srirangam Nathamuni Narayana Iyengar (aka Nānāji); Kalliđaikurichi Narayana Sastry; and Swami Haridoss Giri (Guruji).
Swami Haridoss Giri
Guruji
Thennangur, Tamil Nadu
Chief disciple of Gnanananda Giri. Spread Dakshina Sampradaya Nāmasankeertanam across India and around the world. Built the Panduranga Temple at Thennangur.
Sangita Acharya Thiruvaiyaru S R Krishnan
Performing Nama Sankeertanam since 1959 and Hari-Katha since 1969. Carries the tradition across four continents.
Musical Lineage — Karnataka Sangîtam
Gana-Bhushanam Brahmasri Kumāramangalam Srinivasa-Raghavan
Vāgg̲eyakāra · Mudra: 'RagaSri'
20th-century composer and musician. Father and Paramaguru of Krishnan.
Thiruvaiyaru S R Krishnan
Sangita Acharya
Performing since 1955. Also trained under Maharājapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, and G N Balasubramaniam.
The Krishnan Sisters
Priya · Harini · Subhapriya
Touring internationally since 1982. Also known as the 'California Sisters' in India. Acclaimed Carnatic vocalists settled in California since the late 1980s.
The Fourth Generation
Raama · Keshavan · Hari / Janani · Abhaya / Kaanchana · Shankara
The children of all three Krishnan Sisters: Priya's children Kaanchana and Shankara; Harini's daughters Janani Krishnan-Jha and Abhaya Krishnan-Jha; and Subhapriya's sons Raama Srivatsan, Keshavan Srivatsan, and Hari Srivatsan — trained in Karnataka Sangîtam and carrying the tradition into its fourth generation.