Muthuswamy Dikshitar was a composer par excellence whose musical and lyrical outbursts are formatted as kritis in classical idiom. He has penned and set to music many kritis and the famous among them, which are sung during Navarathri, are Kamalamba Navavarna Kritis.
There are about 11 musical pieces sung in praise of goddess Kamalambika of Tiruvarur in different ragas and different talas. The Navavarna Kritis are hailed as a treasure trove which showcases the technical brilliance of the composer and are compared with major symphonies in the western system.
Muthuswamy Dikshitar was a Srividya upasakar and his devotion to Devi was unfathomable. Each song is nectarine fare and difficult to learn and sing and needs rigorous practice.
Muthuswamy Dikshitar invokes the blessings of goddess Kamalambika in raga Thodi and sets off to compose the rest of the kritis.
Interestingly, in all the compositions, the word Kamalambikai appears. His mudra or identification is Guru Guha which also appears in his compositions.
Mutuswamy Dikshitar has expounded in all the Kamalamba Navavarna Kritis the details of each avarna of Sri Chakra including the devatas and yoginis.
The kritis are to be rendered one each day during Navarathri.
The dhyana sloka is in thodi – Kamalambike Asrutha – Roopaka tala.
The first kriti – Kamalamba Samrakshatu - is in the raga Anandha Bhairavi - Triputa tala.
 The second kriti - Kamalamba Bhajare - Kalyani - Adhi tala.
The third kriti - Sri Kamalambhikayaa Katakashitoham - Sankarabharanam - Roopaka tala
The fourth kriti - Kamalambikayai Kanakamsuhkayay – Kamboji - Ada tala.
The fifth kriti - Kamalambikayaha Param Nahi Re Re Chitta - Bhairavi - Jampa tala.
The sixth kriti - Kamalabikayastava Bhaktom - Punnagavarali – Roopakam.
The seventh kriti - Kamalambikayam Bhakti Karomi – Sahana - Triputa tala.
The eighth kriti - Kamalambikee Avaaa - Ghanta -- Rettai kalai aadhi tala
The ninth kriti - Srilamalamba Jayati – Ahiri - Roopakam
The mangalam is in the raga – Sri – Srikamalambike Sive Pahimam – Roopakam.
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