1. Rao Sahib Abraham Pandithar was a Tamil musicologist, composer, medical doctor and a traditional medicine practitioner from Sambavar Vadakarai of Tirunelveli District, who is celebrated for his patronage of numerous Tamil musicians and his influential studies concerning the origins and evolution of traditional Tamil music.
Abraham Pandithar studied at the CVES Normal Teachers Training School at Dindugal and in 1876, became a teacher in the same college.
Abraham Pandithar belonged to a family of doctors and became interested in Siddha medicine.
Abraham Pandithar started a farm outside Tanjore for growing medicinal plants.
Abraham Pandithar started a clinic - the Karunanidhi Medical Hall at his residence in Tanjore.
Abraham Pandithar did extensive research on the origins and form of Tamil music.
Abraham Pandithar published Karunamirdha Sagara Thirattu - a collection of Tamil practice songs.
Abraham Pandithar attended the All India Music Conference held at Baroda in 1916 and presented his research there.
Abraham Pandithar's family continued his research - Abraham Pandithar's son Varaguna Pandiyan Pandithar wrote the Tamil musical research work Paanarkaivazhi and his daughter Maragathavalli Duraipandian Pandithar completed part 2 of Karunamirdha Sagaram.
Abraham Pandithar's grandson D A Thanapandian Pandithar is a musician and musicologist.