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The Five Great Disciples of Manambucchavadi Venkatasubbayyar
 Maha Vaidyanatha Sivan (1844-1893): In his book 'Isaiyulagil
Maha Vaidyanatha Sivan', Vidwan Veena Subbaiah Bhagavatar says Maha really did not undergo Gurukula Vasam under Venkatasubbayyar. His father Duraiswamy Iyer was a friend of Venkatasubbayyar and whenever the former visited Tanjore, he would stay with Venkatasubbayyar. He would also take his young son with him and while there, Venkatasubbayyar would teach the bright child.
Patnam Subramanya Iyer
(1845-1902) appears to have stayed in Venkatasubbayyar's gurukula for at least seven years, from the age of seven to fourteen. Given that Subramanya Iyer was born in 1845, this indicates that the tutelage went on till 1859.
Sarabha Sastrigal
(1872-1904) was a blind flutist. Prof P Sambamoorthy in his 'Great Musicians' says Sastrigal learnt from Venkatasubbayyar. Blinded at a very young age due to negligent treatment of an ailment, he took to the flute. He was initially trained by Natesa Pillai, nagaswara vidwan of Kumbhakonam and later he apprenticed under Venkatasubbayyar. He made is debut as an accompanist for Harikatha performances and it was only when Pudukottai Manpoondia Pillai heard him play and appreciated his laya, that he became a much sought after artiste. He died at the young age of 32. (source - Sruti Issue 67)
 Tyagaraja: Not much is known of him, except that he was the composer's grandson and that he died when he was 22 years old. His wife was Guruvamma who on his death, moved to her relatives house, along with the idols that the composer worshipped. They are still in that house.
Venkoba Rao the Violinist: Very few details are available about him also. He appears to have been on the same level of popularity as Tirukkodikkaval Krishna Iyer. The Karunamirtha Sagaram says he was a violinist of repute and that he learnt from Umayalpuram Krishna and Sundara Bhagavatar. The book also says that the Umayalpuram Bhagavatars learnt music from Venkatasubbayyar. Then how are they considered Tyagaraja's disciples?
They joined Tyagaraja's school when he was well advanced in years and had returned from his pilgrimage (1839). Therefore they must have benefited from direct tutelage of the saint for seven years (till his death in 1847) and may have rounded off their learning under Venkatasubbayyar. This fact is not mentioned in any other work.
In the great duel between Maha Vaidyanatha Sivan and Madras Venu at the Tiruvannamalai Matam Hall, in George Town, Venkoba Rao played a decisive role, by asking Maha to sing nArAyaNa gauLa and thereby confusing Venu who accepted defeat.
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