Maharaja Swati Tirunal lived for a short span of 34 years but his versatile contribution to the field of arts is eternal. He was the Raja of Travancore, a great patron of arts and a musicologist par excellence himself.

Swati Tirunal was a prodigy and a prolific composer of innumerable lyircs in many languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Manipravalam. His compositions include Krutis, Varnams, Javalis and Tillanas. He evinced great interest in Bharata Natyam, by encouraging famous pioneers of Bharata natyam in his court. His lilting Tillanas are very popular in dance repertoire. He was also a good exponent of Hindusthani music. The universality of his creative interests in arts left a very precious legacy for posterity. He dedicated his works to Lord Padmanabha the presiding deity at Tiruvanatapuram.

Mudra (identity) : Padmanabha