Purandaradasa is one of the most prominent composers of Carnatic music and is widely regarded as the "Grandfather of Carnatic Music". Purandaradasa addressed social issues in addition to worship in his compositions, a practice emulated by his younger contemporary, Kanakadasa. Purandaradasa's Carnatic music compositions are mostly in Kannada; some are in Sanskrit. He signed his compositions with the mudra (pen name), "Purandara Vittala" (Vittala is one of the incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu).