SRI THYAGARAAJA SWAAMIGAL

RAAGA : MOHANAM                                      THAALA : AADHI

Nanu paalimpa natachi voachchithivo naa praananaadha

RAAMA RAAMA RAAMA SITAA RAAMA RAAMA RAAMA RAAJAA

JAANAKI KAANTHA SMARANAM!!  JAI JAI RAAMA RAAMA RAM

The rise of the Bhakthi movement and Bhaagavata Sampradaaya popularised the path of devotion through music all over the country.

Sri Thyagaraja was born in this atmosphere on the 4th may 1767 in Pushya star on Sukla Sapthami day corresponding to Tamil date 27th chitra month, Sarvajit year at Tiruvarur, as the second son of Ramabrahmam and Seethama.

Thyagaraja was inspired by the earlier giants like Purandaradas, Raamadaas, Kshetragna, Jayadaeva, Naarayana Teertha, Sadaasiva Brahmendra and other.  He was a musician-saint-composer who gave us the tradition of KRITIS for preserving the musical excellences in small compositions, contrary to earlier traditions of extensive forms.

Thyagaraja propagated the Bhakthi cult using music as a mean end of God Realisation and occupies a place among great saints whom we adore for the service they rendered for the spritual upliftment of the people.  Apart from musicians, devotees in Bhajan mutts and Bhajan parties accompanying the deities in great festivals, sings his compositions to enjoy their rich devotional content; harikatha bhaagavatars used them profusely to convey many great ideas connected with subject they were dealing.

The compositions of Thyagaraja can be broadly classified into:

1. Kritis effectively portraying the grandeur of musical form and full of meaning with   devotional trend.
2. Songs portraying shodo pachaaraas as a part of daily worship.
3. Divyanaama kirtanas for singing in congregational bhajans widely prevalent at his time in several bhajan mutts in Thanjore district.
4. Uthsava Sampradaaya kirtanas, for singing at the time of Sita and Radha kalyanams etc.,
5. Musical plays - Nowka charitram and prahlada bhakti vijayam in the devotional dramatic traditions insprited by the gita govinda and krishna leela tarangini.  At his time in several villages of Thanjore District the practice of staging Bhavavata Mela Natya Natakas was widely prevalent.

Sri Thyagaraja who took to the saffron robes in the last days of his life attained siddhi on 6th january 1847 Pushya Bahula Panchami day in the year Prabhava at Thiruvaiyaaru.

SADGURU SRI THyAGARAJA SWAMIKI - JAI!!