Bidaram Krishnappa was a Konkani-speaking Gowda Saraswath Brahmin and a native of Nandalike in modern Udupi district, Karnataka.

This happened when hungry Krishnappa, who came from a poor family, was singing a devotional song (devaranama) in a local temple.

Impressed with his voice, the merchant sponsored Krishnappa to train under the guidance of a musician called Ramaswamy.

For his scholarship in music, he earned the titles "Shudda Swaracharya", "Pallavi Krishnappa" and "Gana Visharada".

[4] There is a Temple i.e., Sri Prasanna Sitarama Mandira established by Bidaram Krishnappa himself.