Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri are together known as the:

Explanation

Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri were three great composers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who created a large body of songs that forms the heart of the Carnatic concert today. Remarkably, all three were born in the same town, Tiruvarur, in the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu, and lived at around the same time.

Tyagaraja (1767-1847) is the most famous of the three. He was a devotee of Lord Rama and composed hundreds of songs (kritis), mostly in Telugu. His five great compositions, the Pancharatna Kritis, are sung together every year at the Tyagaraja Aradhana, a music festival held in January at Thiruvaiyaru, where he lived and where his samadhi is located.

Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835) composed mainly in Sanskrit. His songs are known for their grand, slow style and their rich references to temples, deities and philosophy. He used the signature (mudra) "Guruguha" in his songs. His famous works include the Navavarana Kritis, dedicated to the goddess Kamalamba of Tiruvarur. He was also among the first to use the Western violin in Carnatic music, through his family.

Syama Sastri (1762-1827), the eldest of the three, was a devotee of the goddess Kamakshi and composed mainly in Telugu. He is known for his complex rhythmic patterns and his swarajatis.

Purandara Dasa (1484-1564), who lived about two centuries earlier, is called the "Father of Carnatic Music" (Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha), because he organised the basic lessons used to teach the music.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Tanjore Quartet refers to four brothers who shaped the Bharatanatyam repertoire in the 19th century.
• ✗Alvars were the Tamil Vaishnava saint-poets devoted to Vishnu.
• ✗Navaratnas were the "nine jewels" of Akbar's court, including Tansen and Birbal.