---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/how-did-the-violin-enter-carnatic-music'
title: 'How did the violin enter Carnatic music?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/user/fce96177fd193d3a'
date: '2026-10-19T14:57:37+00:00'
updated: '2026-11-02T00:14:50+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'The popular account credits Baluswami Dikshitar (1786 to 1858) with bringing the violin into Carnatic music; R. Sathyanarayana argued it reached Mysore earlier.'
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  - 'Instruments & artforms'
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  site_name: KalaSudha
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---
 

 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How did the violin enter Carnatic music?

 Updated 2 November 2026

 

In the popular account, Baluswami Dikshitar (1786 to 1858), younger brother of the composer Muthuswami Dikshitar, brought the **[violin](/en-gb/instrument/violin)** into Carnatic music after about three years of lessons. The music he heard from British bands in Madras was mostly Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes, and Muthuswami's **nottuswara** songs on Western melodies are linked to his brother's violin. R. Sathyanarayana of Mysore argued that the violin reached Carnatic music in the Mysore region earlier.

Best-known Indian classical violinists include Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, T. N. Krishnan and M. S. Gopalakrishnan in Carnatic music, and V. G. Jog and N. Rajam in Hindustani music.



 

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## Related pages

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###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Violin The violin reached South India in the late 18th century. Carnatic and Hindustani players adapted it with a seated hold that frees the left hand for the slides…     ](/en-gb/instrument/violin)
 
  

 

 

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