Pithukuli Murugadas was born on January 25, 1920, and died on November 17, 2015.

He was a religious singer from Tamil Nadu.

Pithukuli was best known for his compositions on the Hindu deity Murugan.

Pithukuli was born as Balasubramanian in Coimbatore to Alamelu and Sundaram Iyer in a devout Brahmin family.

At the age of seven, he went to practice yoga in Palani under the tutelage of Nadayogi Brahmananda Paradesiar.

Pithukuli was also called “Pittukuli” by his teacher.

In 1931, at the age of eleven, Pithukuli participated in the Salt Satyagraha campaign and spent some days in prison.

During 1936, while participating in the nationwide Satyagraha to protest against the Jalianwalla Bagh massacre Pithukuli was imprisoned for six months.

He was released later as Government’s gesture on the occasion of the wedding of the Mysore Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar.

In 1935, at the age of 15, he relinquished his house and started his pilgrimage.

Pithukuli began wandering around the country.

In 1939, he visited Swami Ramadoss of Kanjangadu Ashram in South Kanara and Mata Krishnabai.

Pithukuli was named as Murugadas by Swami Ramadoss as he sang on Lord Muruga.

In 1940, he spent a few days with Avadhudha Swami Swayam Prakash at Sendhamangalam and then went on a pilgrimage by foot and traveled throughout India.

Pithukuli learnt various renderings of Brahmananda Paradesiar and Ramana Maharishi.

In 1946, Pithukuli joined Thirupugaz Mani in popularizing Bhajans praising Muruga.

After Independence in 1947, Pithukuli became the patron of the orphanage known as Dhinabandhu Ashram at Walajapet.

In 1978 he married Devi Saroja who is an accomplished artist in dance, music, Tala Vadya and painting.

Pithukuli passed away at age 95 in November 2015.