Subbaraya Sastri was born in the year 1803. He was the son and student of Syama Sastri, one of the renowned figures in the history of Carnatic music. He also has the unique distinction of having studied music from all the three of the musicians now acknowledged as "The Trinity of Carnatic Music": his father, and the master musicians Tyagaraja and Muthuswamy Dikshitar.

Early Life of Subbaraya Sastri
Subbaraya Sastri was born as the second son of Syama Sastri in the year 1803. He initially studied music from his father. Later Syama Shastri asked Tyagaraja to teach his son and sent Subbaraya to him. He among others also had the opportunity to learn few Krithi from Muthuswami Dikshitar. He also learnt Hindustani music from Meru Goswami, a musician of the Thanjavur palace, and from Ramadas Swami who was a recluse and who lived in Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam.

Career of Subbaraya Sastri
Subbaraya Shastry composed only a few Krithi. But their technical quality, beauty, devotion and intricacies have made them enduring and famous. Subbaraya Sastri composed most of his Kritis in praise of the Mother Goddess. Some of his famous kritis are Janani ninnuvina (Reetigowla), Ninnusevinchina (Yadukulakambhoji), Venkatasailavihara (Hamirkalyani) and Sankari Nee (Begada)

He died in the year 1862