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{{short description|Composer in Carnatic classical music}}
{{short description|Composer in Carnatic classical music}}
{{redirect|Tyagayya|the films|Tyagayya (1946 film)|and|Tyagayya (1981 film)}}
{{redirect|Tyagayya|the films|Tyagayya (1946 film)|and|Tyagayya (1981 film)}}{{For|the raga on Tyagaraja|Sri Tyagaraja}}{{similar names|Thiagarajah}}
{{similar names|Thiagarajah}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name             = Tyāgarāja
| name               = Thyāgarāja
|image           = Tyagaraja (cropped).png
| image             = Tyagaraja (cropped).png
|caption         = A painting of Tyagaraja from the [[Jaganmohan palace]] in [[Mysore]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aiyar |first1=M. S. Ramaswami |title=Thiagaraja: A Great Musician Saint |date=1927 |page=62 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.34174 |language=en}}</ref>
| caption           = A painting of Thyagaraja from the [[Jaganmohan palace]] in [[Mysore]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aiyar |first1=M. S. Ramaswami |title=Thiagaraja: A Great Musician Saint |date=1927 |page=62 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.34174 |language=en}}</ref>
|birth_name       = Kakarla Tyagabrahmam
| birth_name         = Kakarla Tyagabrahmam
|alias           =  
| alias             =  
|birth_date       = {{birth date|df=yes|1767|5|4}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=yes|1767|5|4}}
|birth_place     = [[Thanjavur]]<ref name="Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana">{{cite web|title=Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana|url=http://thiruvaiyaruthyagarajaaradhana.org/biography.html|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114185914/http://thiruvaiyaruthyagarajaaradhana.org/biography.html|archive-date=14 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_place       = [[Tiruvarur]]
|death_date      = {{death date and age|df=yes|1847|1|6|1767|5|4}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=yes|1847|1|6|1767|5|4}}
|death_place      = [[Thiruvaiyaru]],<ref name="Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana" /> [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]
| death_place        = [[Thiruvaiyaru]],<ref name="Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana">{{cite web|title=Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana|url=http://thiruvaiyaruthyagarajaaradhana.org/biography.html|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114185914/http://thiruvaiyaruthyagarajaaradhana.org/biography.html|archive-date=14 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]
|occupation       = [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] composer
| occupation         = [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] composer
}}
}}


'''Tyagaraja''' ( [[Telugu language|Telugu]] : త్యాగరాజ )(4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as '''Tyāgayya''', was a composer of [[Carnatic music]], a form of [[Indian classical music]]. He was prolific and highly influential in the development of India's classical music tradition. Tyagaraja and his contemporaries, [[Shyama Shastri]] and [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], are regarded as the [[Trinity of Carnatic music]]. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and in praise of Lord [[Rama]], many of which remain popular today.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/233 233]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Of special mention are five of his compositions called the ''[[Pancharatna Kriti]]s'' (English: "five gems"), which are often sung in programs in his honour.
'''Thyagaraja''' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as '''Thyāgayya''' and in full as '''Kakarla Thyagabrahmam''', was a composer and vocalist of [[Carnatic music]], a form of [[Indian classical music]]. Tyagaraja and his contemporaries, [[Shyama Shastri]] and [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], are regarded as the [[Trinity of Carnatic music]]. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and in praise of [[Rama]], many of which remain popular today, the most popular being "Nagumomu".<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/233 233]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Of special mention are five of his compositions called the ''[[Pancharatna Kriti]]s'' ({{translation}} "five gems"), which are often sung in programs in his honour, and ''Utsava Sampradaya Krithis'' ({{translation}} Festive ritual compositions), which are often sung to accompany temple rituals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Tyagaraja: Iconic saint-poet of Carnatic music whose name came up in Parliament |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tyagaraja-carnatic-musician-poet-saint-jairam-ramesh-venkaiah-naidu-parliament-8080294/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>


Tyagaraja saw the reigns of four kings of the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Maratha dynasty]] — [[Thuljaji|Tulaja II]] (1763–1787), [[Amar Singh of Thanjavur|Amarasimha]] (1787–1798), [[Serfoji II]] (1798–1832) and [[Shivaji of Thanjavur|Sivaji II]] (1832–1855),<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/Legend-has-been-rather-cruel-to-Serfoji-when-it-concerns-Tyagaraja./article17394011.ece The saint and the king: on the Serfoji-Tyagaraja relationship]. The Hindu (2 March 2017). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.</ref> although he served none of them.
Thyagaraja lived through the reigns of four kings of the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Maratha dynasty]] – [[Thuljaji|Tulaja II]] (1763–1787), [[Amar Singh of Thanjavur|Amarasimha]] (1787–1798), [[Serfoji II]] (1798–1832) and [[Shivaji of Thanjavur|Sivaji II]] (1832–1855),<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/Legend-has-been-rather-cruel-to-Serfoji-when-it-concerns-Tyagaraja./article17394011.ece The saint and the king: on the Serfoji-Tyagaraja relationship]. The Hindu (2 March 2017). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.</ref> although he served none of them.


==Personal life and background==
==Personal life and background==
Tyāgarāja was born '''Kakarla Tyagabrahmam''' in 1767<ref group=Note>His date of birth according to the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar year]] Sarvajit 27th Soma, on Chaitra Sukla Saptami, the 7th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of [[Chaitra]], under the ''Pushya'' star.</ref> to a [[Telugu language|Telugu]] [[Vaidiki Brahmins|Vaidiki]] [[Mulukanadu Brahmin|Mulakanadu Brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/8X9U3Zb2VypY3evBvLFoBO/The-timelessness-of-Tyagaraja.html|title=The timelessness of Tyagaraja|last=Sai|first=Veejay|date=2017-05-26|website=Livemint|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> in [[Tiruvarur]] in present-day [[Tiruvarur District]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. There is a school of thought led by musicologist B. M. Sundaram that contests this and proposes Tiruvaiyaru as his birthplace. He is a famous musician and his family name 'Kakarla' indicates that they were originally migrants from the village of the same name in the [[Cumbum, Andhra Pradesh|Cumbum]] taluk of [[Prakasam district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]. His family belonged to the [[Smarta]] tradition and Bharadvaja [[gotra]].  Tyagaraja was the third son of his parents, and Panchanada Brahmam and Panchapakesha Brahmam are his elder brothers. He was named Tyagabrahmam/Tyagaraja after [[Lord Thyagaraja|Tyagaraja]], the presiding deity of the temple at Thiruvarur, the place of his birth. Tyagaraja's paternal grandfather was [[Giriraja Kavi]]. Giriraja Kavi was a poet and musician. Giriraja was born in Kakarla village, [[Cumbum, Andhra Pradesh|Cumbum]] taluk in [[Prakasam district]], Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/retracing-roots-of-thyagaraja/article4339327.ece|title=Retracing roots of Thyagaraja|last=Kumar|first=Ranee|date=2013-01-24|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-01|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He is believed to have belonged to the [[Mulakanadu]] sect. Tyagaraja's maternal grandfather was named Kalahastayya, but was frequently addressed as Veena Kalahastayya as he was a noted [[veena]] player. Tyagaraja learned to play the veena in his childhood from Kalahastayya. After Kalahastayya's death Tyagaraja found ''Naradeeyam'', a book related to music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/tiruvaiyaru-gears-up/article3216630.ece |title=Tiruvaiyaru gears up |date=6 January 2006 |publisher=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eemaata.com/em/issues/200809/1337.html/3/ |title=Manaku teliyani mana tyagaraju}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=September 2018}} Tyagaraja hero-worshipped the celestial sage [[Narada]]; a reference to this is Tyagaraja's krithi ''Vara Nārada'' (rāga Vijayaśrī, Ādi tāḷam). Legend has it that a hermit taught him a mantra invoking Narada, and Tyagaraja, meditating on this mantra, received a vision of Narada and was blessed with the book ''Svarārnavam'' by the sage. During his last days, Tyagaraja took vows of [[Sannyasa]].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
Thyāgarāja was born Kakarla Thyagabrahmam in 1767<ref group=Note>His date of birth according to the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar year]] Sarvajit 27th Soma, on Chaitra Sukla Saptami, the 7th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of [[Chaitra]], under the ''Pushya'' star.</ref> to a [[Telugu language|Telugu]] Vaidiki [[Mulukanadu Brahmin|Mulakanadu Brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/8X9U3Zb2VypY3evBvLFoBO/The-timelessness-of-Tyagaraja.html|title=The timelessness of Tyagaraja|last=Sai|first=Veejay|date=2017-05-26|website=Livemint|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> in [[Tiruvarur]] in present-day [[Tiruvarur District]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. There is a school of thought led by musicologist B. M. Sundaram that contests this and proposes Tiruvaiyaru as his birthplace. He is a famous musician and his family name 'Kakarla' indicates that they were originally migrants from the village of the same name in the [[Cumbum, Andhra Pradesh|Cumbum]] taluk of [[Prakasam district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]. His family belonged to the [[Smarta]] tradition and Bharadvaja [[gotra]].  Thyagaraja was the third son of his parents, and Panchanada Brahmam and Panchapakesha Brahmam are his elder brothers. He was named Thyagabrahmam/Thyagaraja after [[Lord Thyagaraja|Tyagaraja]], the presiding deity of the temple at Thiruvarur, the place of his birth. Thyagaraja's maternal uncle was [[Giriraja Kavi]]. Giriraja Kavi was a poet and musician. Giriraja was born in Kakarla village, [[Cumbum, Andhra Pradesh|Cumbum]] taluk in [[Prakasam district]], Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/retracing-roots-of-thyagaraja/article4339327.ece|title=Retracing roots of Thyagaraja|last=Kumar|first=Ranee|date=2013-01-24|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-01|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He is believed to have belonged to the [[Mulakanadu]] sect. Thyagaraja's maternal grandfather was named Kalahastayya, but was frequently addressed as Veena Kalahastayya as he was a noted [[veena]] player. Thyagaraja learned to play the veena in his childhood from Kalahastayya. After Kalahastayya's death Tyagaraja found ''Naradeeyam'', a book related to music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/tiruvaiyaru-gears-up/article3216630.ece |title=Tiruvaiyaru gears up |date=6 January 2006 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eemaata.com/em/issues/200809/1337.html/3/ |title=Manaku teliyani mana tyagaraju}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=V |first=Sriram |date=2018-04-12 |title=The last five days of Tyagaraja |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-last-five-days-of-tyagaraja/article23512441.ece |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Tyagaraja hero-worshipped the celestial sage [[Narada]]; a reference to this is Thyagaraja's krithi ''Vara Nārada'' (rāga Vijayaśrī, Ādi tāḷam). Legend has it that a hermit taught him a mantra invoking Narada, and Thyagaraja, meditating on this mantra, received a vision of Narada and was blessed with the book ''Svarārnavam'' by the sage. During his last days, Thyagaraja took vows of [[Sannyasa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=V |first=Sriram |date=2018-04-12 |title=The last five days of Tyagaraja |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-last-five-days-of-tyagaraja/article23512441.ece |access-date=2023-01-19 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1" />


Tyagaraja died on a Pushya Bahula Panchami day, 6 January 1847, at the age of 79. His last composition before his death was ''Giripai Nelakonna'' (rāga Sahāna, Ādi tāḷam).<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Sai |first1=Veejay |title=Remembering Tyagaraja guardian saint Carnatic music his 250th birth anniversary |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-tyagaraja-guardian-saint-carnatic-music-his-250th-birth-anniversary-55754 |website=www.thenewsminute.com |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> He was buried at the banks of the [[Kaveri]] river at Thiruvaiyaru.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Velcheru|editor1-first=Narayana Rao|editor2-last=David|editor2-first=Shulman|title=Classical Telugu Poetry: An Anthology|url=https://archive.org/details/classicaltelugup00shul|url-access=limited|location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=University of California Press|year=2002|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicaltelugup00shul/page/n312 298]|isbn=9780520225985}}</ref>
Thyagaraja died on a Pushya Bahula Panchami day, 6 January 1847, at the age of 79. His last composition before his death was ''Giripai Nelakonna'' (rāga Sahāna, Ādi tāḷam).<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Sai |first1=Veejay |title=Remembering Tyagaraja guardian saint Carnatic music his 250th birth anniversary |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-tyagaraja-guardian-saint-carnatic-music-his-250th-birth-anniversary-55754 |website=thenewsminute.com |date=15 January 2017 |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> He was cremated on the banks of the [[Kaveri]] river at Thiruvaiyaru.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Velcheru|editor1-first=Narayana Rao|editor2-last=David|editor2-first=Shulman|title=Classical Telugu Poetry: An Anthology|url=https://archive.org/details/classicaltelugup00shul|url-access=limited|location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=University of California Press|year=2002|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicaltelugup00shul/page/n312 298]|isbn=9780520225985}}</ref>


==Musical career==
==Musical career==
[[File:Tyagaraja 1961 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Tyagaraja on a 1961 Indian stamp]]
[[File:Tyagaraja 1961 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Tyagaraja on a 1961 Indian stamp]]


Tyāgarāja began his musical training at an early age under Sonti Venkata Ramanayya, a music scholar, after the latter heard his singing and was impressed by the [[child prodigy]]. Tyagaraja regarded music as a way to experience God's love. His compositions focused on expression, rather than on the technicalities of classical music. He also showed a flair for composing music and, in his teens, composed his first song, "Namo Namo Raghavayya", in the Desika Todi [[ragam]] and inscribed it on the walls of the house. His compositions are mainly of a devotional (''bhakti'') or philosophical nature. His songs feature himself usually either in an appeal to his deity of worship (primarily the Avatar [[Rama]]), in musings, in narratives, or giving a message to the public. He has also composed krithis in praise of Krishna, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha, Muruga, Saraswati, and Hanuman.
Thyāgarāja began his musical training at an early age under Sonti Venkata Ramanayya, a music scholar, after the latter heard his singing and was impressed by the [[child prodigy]]. Thyagaraja regarded music as a way to experience God's love. His compositions focused on expression, rather than on the technicalities of classical music. He also showed a flair for composing music and, in his teens, composed his first song, "Namo Namo Raghavayya", in the Desika Todi [[ragam]] and inscribed it on the walls of the house. His compositions are mainly of a devotional (''bhakti'') or philosophical nature. His songs feature himself usually either in an appeal to his deity of worship (primarily the Avatar [[Rama]]), in musings, in narratives, or giving a message to the public. He has also composed krithis in praise of Krishna, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha, Muruga, Saraswati, and Hanuman.<ref>{{Cite book |last=T.K.R |first=Sridharan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cs91EAAAQBAJ&dq=tyagaraja++also+composed+krithis+in+praise+of+Krishna%2C+Shiva%2C+Shakti%2C+Ganesha%2C+Muruga%2C+Saraswati%2C+and+Hanuman.&pg=PT141 |title=God and Science |date=2022-07-12 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=979-8-88704-354-8 |language=en}}</ref>


Sonti Venkataramanayya informed the king of Thanjavur of Tyagaraja's genius. The king sent an invitation, along with many rich gifts, inviting Tyagaraja to attend the royal court. Tyagaraja, however, was not inclined towards a career at the court, and rejected the invitation outright. He was said to have composed the krithi ''Nidhi Chala Sukhama'' (నిధి చాల సుఖమా) (English: "Does wealth bring happiness?") on this occasion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/the-musical-triumvirate/article1119668.ece |title=The musical triumvirate |date=24 January 2011 |publisher=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/atop-a-hill-a-historic-temple/article4452895.ece |title=Atop a hill, a historic temple |date=26 February 2013 |publisher=The Hindu}}</ref>
Sonti Venkataramanayya informed the king of Thanjavur of Thyagaraja's genius. The king sent an invitation, along with many rich gifts, inviting Thyagaraja to attend the royal court. Thyagaraja, however, was not inclined towards a career at the court, and rejected the invitation outright. He was said to have composed the krithi ''Nidhi Chala Sukhama'' (నిధి చాల సుఖమా) ({{translation}} "Does wealth bring happiness?") on this occasion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/the-musical-triumvirate/article1119668.ece |title=The musical triumvirate |date=24 January 2011 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/atop-a-hill-a-historic-temple/article4452895.ece |title=Atop a hill, a historic temple |date=26 February 2013 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>
He spent most of his time in Tiruvaiyaru, though there are records of his pilgrimages to Tirumala and Kanchipuram. When he was in [[Kanchipuram]], he met [[Upanishad Brahmayogin]] at the Brahmendral Mutt at Kanchipuram.<ref>[http://sreenivasaraos.com/tag/upanishad-brahmendra/ Upanishad Brahmendra | Sreenivasarao's blogs]. Sreenivasaraos.com (22 February 2015). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=September 2018}}
He spent most of his time in Thiruvaiyaru, though there are records of his pilgrimages to Thirumala and Kanchipuram. When he was in [[Kanchipuram]], he met [[Upanishad Brahmayogin]] at the Brahmendral Mutt at Kanchipuram.<ref>[http://sreenivasaraos.com/tag/upanishad-brahmendra/ Upanishad Brahmendra | Sreenivasarao's blogs]. Sreenivasaraos.com (22 February 2015). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviewing the Film – Thyagaiah - The Verandah Club |url=https://theverandahclub.com/article/reviewing-the-film-thyagaiah-456 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=theverandahclub.com |language=en}}</ref>


{{Carnatic}}
{{Carnatic}}
Tyagaraja, who was immersed in his devotion to Rama and led a spartan way of life, did not take any steps to systematically codify his vast musical output. Rangaramanuja Iyengar, a leading researcher on Carnatic music, in his work ''Kriti Manimalai'', has described the situation prevailing at the time of the death of Tyagaraja.  It is said that a major portion of his incomparable musical work was lost to the world due to natural and man-made calamities. Usually, Tyagaraja used to sing his compositions sitting before deity manifestations of Lord Rama, and his disciples noted down the details of his compositions on palm leaves. After his death, these were in the hands of his disciples, then families descending from the disciples. There was not a definitive edition of Tyagaraja's songs.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}
Thyagaraja, who was immersed in his devotion to Rama and led a spartan way of life, did not take any steps to systematically codify his vast musical output. Rangaramanuja Iyengar, a leading researcher on Carnatic music, in his work ''Kriti Manimalai'', has described the situation prevailing at the time of the death of Thyagaraja.  It is said that a major portion of his incomparable musical work was lost to the world due to natural and man-made calamities. Usually, Thyagaraja used to sing his compositions sitting before deity manifestations of Lord Rama, and his disciples noted down the details of his compositions on palm leaves. After his death, these were in the hands of his disciples, then families descending from the disciples. There was not a definitive edition of Thyagaraja's songs.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}


The songs he composed in pure Telugu were widespread in their popularity because of the ease with which they could be sung in those days. Musical experts such as Kancheepuram Nayana Pillai, [[Simizhi Sundaram Iyer]] and [[Veenai Dhanammal]] saw the infinite possibilities for imaginative music inherent in his compositions and they systematically notated the songs available to them. Subsequently, researchers like K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar and Rangaramanuja Iyengar made an enormous effort to contact various teachers and families who possessed the palm leaves. K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar brought out ''Adi Sangita Ratnavali'' and ''Adi Tyagaraja Hridhayam'' in three volumes. Rangaramanuja Iyengar published ''Kriti Mani Malai'' in two volumes.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} He also composed songs in Sanskrit.
The songs he composed in pure Telugu were widespread in their popularity because of the ease with which they could be sung in those days. Musical experts such as Kancheepuram Nayana Pillai, [[Simizhi Sundaram Iyer]] and [[Veenai Dhanammal]] saw the infinite possibilities for imaginative music inherent in his compositions and they systematically notated the songs available to them. Subsequently, researchers like K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar and Rangaramanuja Iyengar made an enormous effort to contact various teachers and families who possessed the palm leaves. K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar brought out ''Adi Sangita Ratnavali'' and ''Adi Tyagaraja Hridhayam'' in three volumes. Rangaramanuja Iyengar published ''Kriti Mani Malai'' in two volumes.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} He also composed songs in Sanskrit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-01-12 |title=Thyagaraja Aradhana held amid religious fervour at Ongole |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/thyagaraja-aradhana-held-amid-religious-fervour-at-ongole/article66369951.ece |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


Furthermore, Musiri Subramania Iyer, the doyen of Bhava Sangitam, had a vast collection of books in his library. T. K. Govinda Rao, his disciple, brought out a volume of Tyagaraja's songs in English and [[Devanagari script]]. T. S. Parthasarathy, a leading scholar on Tyagaraja, published the text and meaning of Tyagaraja's songs. There are also many less comprehensive publications in Telugu.
Furthermore, Musiri Subramania Iyer, the doyen of Bhava Sangitam, had a vast collection of books in his library. T. K. Govinda Rao, his disciple, brought out a volume of Thyagaraja's songs in English and [[Devanagari script]]. T. S. Parthasarathy, a leading scholar on Thyagaraja, published the text and meaning of Thyagaraja's songs. There are also many less comprehensive publications in Telugu.


About 700 songs remain of the 24,000 songs said to have been composed by him; however, scholars are skeptical about numbers like these, as there is no biographical evidence to support such claims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/the-bhaktha-who-craved-more-bhakthi/article4363222.ece |title=The bhaktha who craved more bhakthi |date=31 January 2013 |publisher=The Hindu}}</ref>
About 700 songs remain of the 24,000 songs said to have been composed by him; however, scholars are skeptical about numbers like these, as there is no biographical evidence to support such claims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/the-bhaktha-who-craved-more-bhakthi/article4363222.ece |title=The bhaktha who craved more bhakthi |date=31 January 2013 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>
In addition to nearly 700 compositions (kritis), Tyagaraja composed two musical plays in Telugu, the ''[[List of compositions by Tyagaraja#Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam|Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam]]'' and the ''[[List of compositions by Tyagaraja#Nouka Charitram|Nauka Charitam]]''. ''Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam'' is in five acts with 45 ''[[kriti]]s'' set in 28 [[raga]]s and 138 verses, in different metres in Telugu. ''Nauka Charitam'' is a shorter play in one act with 21 ''kritis'' set in 13 ''ragas'' and 43 verses. The latter is the most popular of Tyagaraja's operas, and is a creation of the composer's own imagination and has no basis in the [[Bhagavata Purana]]. Tyagaraja also composed a number of simple devotional pieces appropriate for choral singing.<ref>[http://www.acharyanet.com/product-category/020-krtis/tyagarajas-bhajana-marga-krtis/] {{dead link|date=December 2018}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=September 2018}}
In addition to nearly 700 compositions (kritis), Thyagaraja composed two musical plays in Telugu, the ''[[List of compositions by Tyagaraja#Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam|Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam]]'' and the ''[[List of compositions by Tyagaraja#Nouka Charitram|Nauka Charitam]]''. ''Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam'' is in five acts with 45 ''[[Kriti (music)|kriti]]s'' set in 28 [[raga]]s and 138 verses, in different metres in Telugu. ''Nauka Charitam'' is a shorter play in one act with 21 ''kritis'' set in 13 ''ragas'' and 43 verses. The latter is the most popular of Tyagaraja's operas, and is a creation of the composer's own imagination and has no basis in the [[Bhagavata Purana]]. Tyagaraja also composed a number of simple devotional pieces appropriate for choral singing.<ref>[http://www.acharyanet.com/product-category/020-krtis/tyagarajas-bhajana-marga-krtis/] {{dead link|date=December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Feature: Tyagaraja – The Exemplary Poet-Saint – Jan 2006 |url=https://archive.sssmediacentre.org/journals/Vol_04/01JAN06/tyagaraja.htm |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=archive.sssmediacentre.org}}</ref>


The 20th-century Indian music critic [[K. V. Ramachandran]] wrote: "Tyagaraja is an indefatigable interpreter of the past... but if with one eye he looks backward, with the other he looks forward as well. Like [[Prajapati]], he creates his own media and adores his Rama not alone with jewel-words newly fashioned, but also with jewel-[like]-music newly created. It is this facet of Tyagaraja that distinguishes him from his illustrious contemporaries."{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} In other words, while Tyagaraja's contemporaries were primarily concerned with bringing to audiences the music of the past, Tyagaraja also pioneered new musical concepts at the same time.
The 20th-century Indian music critic [[K. V. Ramachandran]] wrote: "Thyagaraja is an indefatigable interpreter of the past... but if with one eye he looks backward, with the other he looks forward as well. Like [[Prajapati]], he creates his own media and adores his Rama not alone with jewel-words newly fashioned, but also with jewel-[like]-music newly created. It is this facet of Thyagaraja that distinguishes him from his illustrious contemporaries."{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} In other words, while Thyagaraja's contemporaries were primarily concerned with bringing to audiences the music of the past, Tyagaraja also pioneered new musical concepts at the same time.{{citation needed|date= October 2022}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishna |first=T. M. |date=2017-05-04 |title=Tyagaraja's musical span and insight reiterates his genius |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/tyagarajas-musical-span-and-insight-reiterates-his-genius/article18384186.ece |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Remembrance==
==Remembrance==
''[[Tyagaraja Aradhana]]'', the commemorative music festival is held every year in [[Thiruvaiyaru]] in [[Thanjavur]] district of [[Tamilnadu]], during the months of January to February in Tyagaraja's honor. This is a week-long festival of music where various Carnatic musicians from all over the world converge at his resting place. On the Pushya Bahula Panchami,<ref group=Note>''Pushya Bahula Panchami'' – the fifth day of the dark half of the month of ''Pushya'', in the Hindu calendar every year.</ref> thousands of people and hundreds of Carnatic musicians sing the five Pancharatna Kritis in unison, with the accompaniment of a large bank of accompanists on [[Saraswati veena|veena]]s, violins, [[flute]]s, [[nadasvaram]]s, [[mridangam]]s and [[ghatam]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/musicians-pay-homage-to-saint-thyagaraja/article4367662.ece|title=Musicians pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja|publisher=The Hindu|date=1 February 2013}}</ref>
''[[Tyagaraja Aradhana]]'', the commemorative music festival is held every year in [[Thiruvaiyaru]] in [[Thanjavur]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]], during the months of January to February in Tyagaraja's honor. This is a week-long festival of music where various Carnatic musicians from all over the world converge at his resting place. On the Pushya Bahula Panchami,<ref group=Note>''Pushya Bahula Panchami'' – the fifth day of the dark half of the month of ''Pushya'', in the Hindu calendar every year.</ref> thousands of people and hundreds of Carnatic musicians sing the five Pancharatna Kritis in unison, with the accompaniment of a large bank of accompanists on [[Saraswati veena|veena]]s, violins, [[flute]]s, [[nadasvaram]]s, [[mridangam]]s and [[ghatam]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/musicians-pay-homage-to-saint-thyagaraja/article4367662.ece|title=Musicians pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja|work=The Hindu|date=1 February 2013}}</ref>


A sports complex in [[New Delhi]], [[Thyagaraj Sports Complex]], was named after him. A [[Impact crater|crater]] on the planet Mercury was named after [[Tyagaraja (crater)|Tyagaraja]] in 1976.<ref name="JHUAPL">{{cite web |url=http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=861 |title=The Hollowed Halls of Tyagaraja|date=24 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406013843/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=861 |archive-date=6 April 2014 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory }}</ref>
A sports complex in [[New Delhi]], [[Thyagaraj Sports Complex]], was named after him. A [[Impact crater|crater]] on the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] was named after [[Tyagaraja (crater)|Tyagaraja]] in 1976.<ref name="JHUAPL">{{cite web |url=http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=861 |title=The Hollowed Halls of Tyagaraja|date=24 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406013843/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=861 |archive-date=6 April 2014 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory }}</ref>


==Popular culture==
==In popular culture==


===Films on Tyagaraja (biographical)===
===Films on Tyagaraja (biographical)===
As the most famous composer of Telugu ''kritis'' or (''kirtanas''), Tyagaraja, who is fondly remembered as Tyagayya, has caught the imagination of filmmakers in the Telugu film industry. Apart from references to his works, using the ''kirtanas'' as songs, two films were made on his life. [[Chittor V. Nagaiah]] made a biographical epic on Tyagaraja titled ''[[Tyagayya (1946 film)|Tyagayya]]'' in 1946 which is still treated as a masterpiece of [[Telugu cinema]]. In 1981, Bapu–Ramana made ''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]'' with [[J. V. Somayajulu]] in the lead role. Another attempt is being made by [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]] to picturise Tyagaraja's life.Apart from these Bombay Gnanam made a short film known as Endarao Mahanubavulu on Sri Tyagayya
Apart from references to his works, using the ''kirtanas'' as songs, two films were made on his life. [[V. Nagayya]] made a biographical epic on Tyagaraja titled ''[[Tyagayya (1946 film)|Tyagayya]]'' in 1946 which is still treated as a masterpiece of [[Telugu cinema]]. In 1981, Bapu–Ramana made ''[[Tyagayya (1981 film)|Tyagayya]]'' with [[J. V. Somayajulu]] in the lead role. Another attempt is being made by [[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]] to picturise Tyagaraja's life. Apart from these, ''Bombay Gnanam'' made a short film known as ''Endaro Mahanubavulu'' on Tyagaraja. The short film was released on 27 February 2021, on the 174th Tyagaraja Aradhana festival.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=H. |date=2021-02-11 |title=A biopic on the bard of Tiruvaiyaru |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/entharo-mahanubhavulu-a-biopic-on-the-bard-of-tiruvaiyaru/article33811091.ece |access-date=2023-01-19 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
=== Raga on Tyagaraja (Musical scale) ===
Carnatic kriti 'Sri Ramachandram Bhajami' in raga '[[Sri Tyagaraja]]' created and composed by {{Interlanguage link|Mahesh Mahadev|kn|ಮಹೇಶ್ ಮಹದೇವ್}} named after Saint Tyagaraja <ref>{{Cite news |last=Correspondent |first=Special |date=2023-03-03 |title=New raga named after Thyagaraja |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/classical-musician-and-composer-mahesh-mahadev-creates-sri-tyagaraja-raga-as-a-tribute-to-the-saint-poet/article66559391.ece |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>sung by [[Priyadarshini (singer)|Priyadarshini]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=SamyukthaKarnataka ePaper |url=http://samyukthakarnataka.com//articlepage.php?articleid=SMYK_BANG_20230123_03_4&width=174px&edition=Bangalore&curpage=3 |access-date=2023-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125062229/http://samyukthakarnataka.com//articlepage.php?articleid=SMYK_BANG_20230123_03_4&width=174px&edition=Bangalore&curpage=3 |archive-date=25 January 2023 }}</ref> was released on 10 January 2023 at Thyagaraja Samadi during 176th [[Tyagaraja Aradhana]] festival<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinto |first=Arun |date=2023-01-19 |title=Sri Tyagaraja – a New Raga in Carnatic Music by Mahesh Mahadev |url=https://newskarnataka.com/karnataka/bengaluru/sri-tyagaraja-a-new-raga-in-carnatic-music-by-mahesh-mahadev/19012023 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=News Karnataka |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Tyagaraja - a new creation |url=https://www.sruti.com/articles/newsnotes/sri-tyagaraja-a-new-creation |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.sruti.com |language=en}}</ref>


==Compositions==
==Compositions==
{{main|List of compositions by Tyagaraja}}
{{main|List of compositions by Tyagaraja}}


The term ''Pancharatna'' in Sanskrit means "five gems": The Pancharatnas are known as the five finest gems of Carnatic music. All of the Pancharatnas are set to Adi Talam. So far as Pancharatnas are concerned, a stable text has been handed over by the earlier musicians to the present day. Several musicians have brought out editions of Pancharatnas. However, Veenai Sundaram Iyer's edition is the most detailed and comprehensive. All the compositions of Tyagaraja show the way for the systematic development of the respective ragas. However, in the Pancharatnas, Tyagaraja has given exhaustive treatment as to how to systematically and scientifically develop a raga. The two fundamental conditions that must be satisfied for the systematic development of a raga are the arrangement of the solfa swaras in the natural order of Arohanam and Avarohanam of the Ragas so as to satisfy the sound principles of harmony and continuity. Pancharatnas satisfy these scientific principles. The Pancharatnas are composed in perfect sarvalaghu swaras.
The term ''Pancharatna'' in Sanskrit means "five gems": The Pancharatnas are known as the five finest gems of Carnatic music. All of the Pancharatnas are set to the [[Adi tala|adi talam]]. So far as Pancharatnas are concerned, a stable text has been handed over by the earlier musicians to the present day. All the compositions of Tyagaraja show the way for the systematic development of the respective ragas. In the Pancharatnas, Tyagaraja offers parameters as to how to systematically and scientifically develop a raga. The two fundamental conditions that must be satisfied for the systematic development of a raga are the arrangement of the svaras in the natural order of [[Avarohana|avarohanam]], and the avarohanam of the ragas so as to satisfy the sound principles of harmony and continuity. Pancharatnas satisfy these scientific principles. The Pancharatnas are composed in perfect sarvalaghu svaras.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tyāgarāja |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H0WzAAAAIAAJ |title=The Pancha Ratna Kritis of Sri Tyagaraja: Text in Deva Nagari Script with an English Translation by T.S. Parthasarathy. Supplement: Notations in Tamil Script by V.S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |date=1969 |publisher=Music Club |language=ta}}</ref>


* The first Pancharatna is Jagadaanandakaaraka, in the raga Nata . It is composed in lucid and poetic Sanskrit. It praises Lord Rama as the source of all joy in the universe. Originally there were only six Charanams for the song and when the disciples examined the song it contained ninety names of Lord Rama in mellifluous Sanskrit. The disciples requested Tyagaraja to slightly expand the song by adding two charanas containing eighteen more names of Lord Rama. The saint acceded to the request of the disciples and that is the reason why the song Jagadaanandakaaraka contains three mudras containing the name of Tyagaraja while the other four songs contain only one mudra each.
* The first Pancharatna kriti is Jagadanandakaraka, sung in the raga Nata. It is composed in Sanskrit. It praises Rama as the source of all joy in the universe. Originally, there were only six charanams for the song. When the disciples examined the song, it contained ninety names of Rama in Sanskrit. The disciples requested Tyagaraja to slightly expand the song by adding two charanas containing eighteen more names of Rama. The saint acceded to the request of the disciples and that is the reason why the song Jagadanandakaraka contains three mudras containing the name of Tyagaraja while the other four songs contain only one mudra each. <ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Suryanarayan |first=Renuka |date=2021-02-11 |title=The story behind the Pancharatnam rendition |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-story-behind-the/article33810924.ece |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* The next is Duduku gala in the raga [[Gowla]] set to Aadi Taalam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja takes the blame upon himself for all the misdeeds of men and ruminates on who would come and save him from this deplorable situation.
* The next is Duduku gala in the raga [[Gowla|gaula]] set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja takes the blame upon himself for all the misdeeds of men and ruminates on who would come and save him from this deplorable situation.
* The third is Saadhinchene in the raga Aarabhi, set to Aadi Taalam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja lovingly criticizes Lord Krishna for his cleverness in getting what he wants to be done. Saadhinchene is a breathtaking lullaby.
* The third is Saadhinchene in the raga Arabhi, set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja lovingly criticizes Krishna for his cleverness in getting what he wants to be done.
* The fourth song, Kana Kana Ruchiraa is in the raga Varaali set to Aadi Taalam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja describes the infinite beauty of Lord Rama.
* The fourth kriti, Kana Kana Ruchira is in the raga Varaali set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja describes the infinite beauty of Rama.
* The fifth Pancharatna is Endaro Mahaanubhaavulu in Sri Raaga. It is composed in Telugu. It is said that a great musician from Kerala, Shatkala Govinda Maaraar, visited Tygaraja and performed before him. Tyagaraja was enchanted with his performance and then was born Endaro Mahanubhavulu, the composition of unparallelled rhythmic beauty in Carnatic music.
* The fifth Pancharatna kriti is the Endaro Mahanubhavulu in the sri raga. It is composed in Telugu. It is said that a great musician from Kerala, Shatkala Govinda Maaraar, visited Tyagaraja and performed before him. Tyagaraja was enchanted with his performance and then was born Endaro Mahanubhavulu, regarded to be a great work of Carnatic music.<ref name=":2" />


Other notable compositions by Tyagaraja include Saamajavaragamana in Hindolam raagam, Aadamodigaladhe in Chaarukesi raagam, Raaju vedale in Hanumatodi raagam, Ninne nammi naanura in Todi raagam, Kamalapthakula in Brindavana saranga raagam, Ksheera saagara shayana in Devagaandhaari raagam, Maarubalka kunna vemira ma manoramana in Sriranjani raagam, Sobhillu Saptaswara in Jaganmohini raagam and Nagumomu kanaleni in Aabheri raagam.  
Other compositions by Tyagaraja include Samajavaragamana in the [[Hindolam|hindolam raga]], Adamodigaladhe in the charukesi raga, Raju vedale in the hanumatodi raga, Ninne nammi nanura in the todi raga, Kamalapthakula in the brindavana saranga raga, Kshira sagara shayana in the devagandhari raga, Marubalka kunna vemira ma manoramana in the Sriranjani raga, and Nagumomu kanaleni in the abheri raga.{{citation needed|date= October 2022}}


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|India|Music}}
 
* [[Kancherla Gopanna]] (Bhadrachala Ramadasu)
* [[Kancherla Gopanna]] (Bhadrachala Ramadasu)
* [[Purandara Dasa]]
* [[Purandara Dasa]]
Line 90: Line 92:
* Ramachandran, K.V., "The Melakarta: A Critique", ''The (Madras) Music Academy Platinum Jubilee Commemoration Volume'', Vol. I, 1930–1940. (Original publication in the ''Journal of the Music Academy'' in 1938.)
* Ramachandran, K.V., "The Melakarta: A Critique", ''The (Madras) Music Academy Platinum Jubilee Commemoration Volume'', Vol. I, 1930–1940. (Original publication in the ''Journal of the Music Academy'' in 1938.)
* ''Thyagaraju – Rama Darsanamu'' (In Telugu) by Dr. Mulukutla Brahmananda Sastry (part of the thesis approved by Andhra University, 1985.)
* ''Thyagaraju – Rama Darsanamu'' (In Telugu) by Dr. Mulukutla Brahmananda Sastry (part of the thesis approved by Andhra University, 1985.)
* Shree Tyagaraja Keerthnai – Parthasarathy TS ( Tamil ) Paperback – 1 January 1970 by KMBC; 2010th edition (1 January 1970), ASIN  :  B00CBQBXMU


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Tyagaraja}}
 
* [http://www.thyagaraja.org Website dedicated to Tyagaraja]
* [http://www.thyagaraja.org Website dedicated to Tyagaraja]
* [https://archive.org/download/in.ernet.dli.2015.34174/2015.34174.Thigaraja-A-Great-Musician-Saint.pdf Thiagaraja A Great Musician – M.S. Ramaswamy Aiyar]
* {{IMSLP|id=Tyāgarāja}}
* {{IMSLP|id=Tyāgarāja}}


Latest revision as of 13:42, 15 August 2023


"Tyagayya" redirects here. For the films, see Tyagayya (1946 film) and Tyagayya (1981 film).
For the raga on Tyagaraja, see Sri Tyagaraja.
For other people with similar names, see Thiagarajah.

Thyāgarāja
Tyagaraja (cropped).png
A painting of Thyagaraja from the Jaganmohan palace in Mysore[1]
Born
Kakarla Tyagabrahmam

(1767-05-04)4 May 1767
Tiruvarur
Died6 January 1847(1847-01-06) (aged 79)
Thiruvaiyaru,[2] Thanjavur Maratha kingdom
OccupationCarnatic composer

Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his contemporaries, Shyama Shastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar, are regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic music. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in Telugu and in praise of Rama, many of which remain popular today, the most popular being "Nagumomu".[3] Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Kritis (transl. "five gems"), which are often sung in programs in his honour, and Utsava Sampradaya Krithis (transl. Festive ritual compositions), which are often sung to accompany temple rituals.[4]

Thyagaraja lived through the reigns of four kings of the Maratha dynasty – Tulaja II (1763–1787), Amarasimha (1787–1798), Serfoji II (1798–1832) and Sivaji II (1832–1855),[5] although he served none of them.

Personal life and background[edit]

Thyāgarāja was born Kakarla Thyagabrahmam in 1767[Note 1] to a Telugu Vaidiki Mulakanadu Brahmin family[6][7] in Tiruvarur in present-day Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. There is a school of thought led by musicologist B. M. Sundaram that contests this and proposes Tiruvaiyaru as his birthplace. He is a famous musician and his family name 'Kakarla' indicates that they were originally migrants from the village of the same name in the Cumbum taluk of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. His family belonged to the Smarta tradition and Bharadvaja gotra. Thyagaraja was the third son of his parents, and Panchanada Brahmam and Panchapakesha Brahmam are his elder brothers. He was named Thyagabrahmam/Thyagaraja after Tyagaraja, the presiding deity of the temple at Thiruvarur, the place of his birth. Thyagaraja's maternal uncle was Giriraja Kavi. Giriraja Kavi was a poet and musician. Giriraja was born in Kakarla village, Cumbum taluk in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh.[8] He is believed to have belonged to the Mulakanadu sect. Thyagaraja's maternal grandfather was named Kalahastayya, but was frequently addressed as Veena Kalahastayya as he was a noted veena player. Thyagaraja learned to play the veena in his childhood from Kalahastayya. After Kalahastayya's death Tyagaraja found Naradeeyam, a book related to music.[9][10][11] Tyagaraja hero-worshipped the celestial sage Narada; a reference to this is Thyagaraja's krithi Vara Nārada (rāga Vijayaśrī, Ādi tāḷam). Legend has it that a hermit taught him a mantra invoking Narada, and Thyagaraja, meditating on this mantra, received a vision of Narada and was blessed with the book Svarārnavam by the sage. During his last days, Thyagaraja took vows of Sannyasa.[12][11]

Thyagaraja died on a Pushya Bahula Panchami day, 6 January 1847, at the age of 79. His last composition before his death was Giripai Nelakonna (rāga Sahāna, Ādi tāḷam).[7] He was cremated on the banks of the Kaveri river at Thiruvaiyaru.[13]

Musical career[edit]

Tyagaraja on a 1961 Indian stamp

Thyāgarāja began his musical training at an early age under Sonti Venkata Ramanayya, a music scholar, after the latter heard his singing and was impressed by the child prodigy. Thyagaraja regarded music as a way to experience God's love. His compositions focused on expression, rather than on the technicalities of classical music. He also showed a flair for composing music and, in his teens, composed his first song, "Namo Namo Raghavayya", in the Desika Todi ragam and inscribed it on the walls of the house. His compositions are mainly of a devotional (bhakti) or philosophical nature. His songs feature himself usually either in an appeal to his deity of worship (primarily the Avatar Rama), in musings, in narratives, or giving a message to the public. He has also composed krithis in praise of Krishna, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha, Muruga, Saraswati, and Hanuman.[14]

Sonti Venkataramanayya informed the king of Thanjavur of Thyagaraja's genius. The king sent an invitation, along with many rich gifts, inviting Thyagaraja to attend the royal court. Thyagaraja, however, was not inclined towards a career at the court, and rejected the invitation outright. He was said to have composed the krithi Nidhi Chala Sukhama (నిధి చాల సుఖమా) (transl. "Does wealth bring happiness?") on this occasion.[15][16] He spent most of his time in Thiruvaiyaru, though there are records of his pilgrimages to Thirumala and Kanchipuram. When he was in Kanchipuram, he met Upanishad Brahmayogin at the Brahmendral Mutt at Kanchipuram.[17][18]

Carnatic music
Tanjore-style Carnatic tambura.JPG
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Thyagaraja, who was immersed in his devotion to Rama and led a spartan way of life, did not take any steps to systematically codify his vast musical output. Rangaramanuja Iyengar, a leading researcher on Carnatic music, in his work Kriti Manimalai, has described the situation prevailing at the time of the death of Thyagaraja. It is said that a major portion of his incomparable musical work was lost to the world due to natural and man-made calamities. Usually, Thyagaraja used to sing his compositions sitting before deity manifestations of Lord Rama, and his disciples noted down the details of his compositions on palm leaves. After his death, these were in the hands of his disciples, then families descending from the disciples. There was not a definitive edition of Thyagaraja's songs.[citation needed]

The songs he composed in pure Telugu were widespread in their popularity because of the ease with which they could be sung in those days. Musical experts such as Kancheepuram Nayana Pillai, Simizhi Sundaram Iyer and Veenai Dhanammal saw the infinite possibilities for imaginative music inherent in his compositions and they systematically notated the songs available to them. Subsequently, researchers like K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar and Rangaramanuja Iyengar made an enormous effort to contact various teachers and families who possessed the palm leaves. K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar brought out Adi Sangita Ratnavali and Adi Tyagaraja Hridhayam in three volumes. Rangaramanuja Iyengar published Kriti Mani Malai in two volumes.[citation needed] He also composed songs in Sanskrit.[19]

Furthermore, Musiri Subramania Iyer, the doyen of Bhava Sangitam, had a vast collection of books in his library. T. K. Govinda Rao, his disciple, brought out a volume of Thyagaraja's songs in English and Devanagari script. T. S. Parthasarathy, a leading scholar on Thyagaraja, published the text and meaning of Thyagaraja's songs. There are also many less comprehensive publications in Telugu.

About 700 songs remain of the 24,000 songs said to have been composed by him; however, scholars are skeptical about numbers like these, as there is no biographical evidence to support such claims.[20] In addition to nearly 700 compositions (kritis), Thyagaraja composed two musical plays in Telugu, the Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam and the Nauka Charitam. Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam is in five acts with 45 kritis set in 28 ragas and 138 verses, in different metres in Telugu. Nauka Charitam is a shorter play in one act with 21 kritis set in 13 ragas and 43 verses. The latter is the most popular of Tyagaraja's operas, and is a creation of the composer's own imagination and has no basis in the Bhagavata Purana. Tyagaraja also composed a number of simple devotional pieces appropriate for choral singing.[21][22]

The 20th-century Indian music critic K. V. Ramachandran wrote: "Thyagaraja is an indefatigable interpreter of the past... but if with one eye he looks backward, with the other he looks forward as well. Like Prajapati, he creates his own media and adores his Rama not alone with jewel-words newly fashioned, but also with jewel-[like]-music newly created. It is this facet of Thyagaraja that distinguishes him from his illustrious contemporaries."[citation needed] In other words, while Thyagaraja's contemporaries were primarily concerned with bringing to audiences the music of the past, Tyagaraja also pioneered new musical concepts at the same time.[citation needed][23]

Remembrance[edit]

Tyagaraja Aradhana, the commemorative music festival is held every year in Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, during the months of January to February in Tyagaraja's honor. This is a week-long festival of music where various Carnatic musicians from all over the world converge at his resting place. On the Pushya Bahula Panchami,[Note 2] thousands of people and hundreds of Carnatic musicians sing the five Pancharatna Kritis in unison, with the accompaniment of a large bank of accompanists on veenas, violins, flutes, nadasvarams, mridangams and ghatams.[24]

A sports complex in New Delhi, Thyagaraj Sports Complex, was named after him. A crater on the planet Mercury was named after Tyagaraja in 1976.[25]

In popular culture[edit]

Films on Tyagaraja (biographical)[edit]

Apart from references to his works, using the kirtanas as songs, two films were made on his life. V. Nagayya made a biographical epic on Tyagaraja titled Tyagayya in 1946 which is still treated as a masterpiece of Telugu cinema. In 1981, Bapu–Ramana made Tyagayya with J. V. Somayajulu in the lead role. Another attempt is being made by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao to picturise Tyagaraja's life. Apart from these, Bombay Gnanam made a short film known as Endaro Mahanubavulu on Tyagaraja. The short film was released on 27 February 2021, on the 174th Tyagaraja Aradhana festival.[26]

Raga on Tyagaraja (Musical scale)[edit]

Carnatic kriti 'Sri Ramachandram Bhajami' in raga 'Sri Tyagaraja' created and composed by Mahesh Mahadev [kn] named after Saint Tyagaraja [27]sung by Priyadarshini[28] was released on 10 January 2023 at Thyagaraja Samadi during 176th Tyagaraja Aradhana festival[29][30]

Compositions[edit]

Main article: List of compositions by Tyagaraja

The term Pancharatna in Sanskrit means "five gems": The Pancharatnas are known as the five finest gems of Carnatic music. All of the Pancharatnas are set to the adi talam. So far as Pancharatnas are concerned, a stable text has been handed over by the earlier musicians to the present day. All the compositions of Tyagaraja show the way for the systematic development of the respective ragas. In the Pancharatnas, Tyagaraja offers parameters as to how to systematically and scientifically develop a raga. The two fundamental conditions that must be satisfied for the systematic development of a raga are the arrangement of the svaras in the natural order of avarohanam, and the avarohanam of the ragas so as to satisfy the sound principles of harmony and continuity. Pancharatnas satisfy these scientific principles. The Pancharatnas are composed in perfect sarvalaghu svaras.[31]

  • The first Pancharatna kriti is Jagadanandakaraka, sung in the raga Nata. It is composed in Sanskrit. It praises Rama as the source of all joy in the universe. Originally, there were only six charanams for the song. When the disciples examined the song, it contained ninety names of Rama in Sanskrit. The disciples requested Tyagaraja to slightly expand the song by adding two charanas containing eighteen more names of Rama. The saint acceded to the request of the disciples and that is the reason why the song Jagadanandakaraka contains three mudras containing the name of Tyagaraja while the other four songs contain only one mudra each. [32]
  • The next is Duduku gala in the raga gaula set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja takes the blame upon himself for all the misdeeds of men and ruminates on who would come and save him from this deplorable situation.
  • The third is Saadhinchene in the raga Arabhi, set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja lovingly criticizes Krishna for his cleverness in getting what he wants to be done.
  • The fourth kriti, Kana Kana Ruchira is in the raga Varaali set to adi talam. It is composed in Telugu. In this song, Tyagaraja describes the infinite beauty of Rama.
  • The fifth Pancharatna kriti is the Endaro Mahanubhavulu in the sri raga. It is composed in Telugu. It is said that a great musician from Kerala, Shatkala Govinda Maaraar, visited Tyagaraja and performed before him. Tyagaraja was enchanted with his performance and then was born Endaro Mahanubhavulu, regarded to be a great work of Carnatic music.[32]

Other compositions by Tyagaraja include Samajavaragamana in the hindolam raga, Adamodigaladhe in the charukesi raga, Raju vedale in the hanumatodi raga, Ninne nammi nanura in the todi raga, Kamalapthakula in the brindavana saranga raga, Kshira sagara shayana in the devagandhari raga, Marubalka kunna vemira ma manoramana in the Sriranjani raga, and Nagumomu kanaleni in the abheri raga.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ His date of birth according to the Hindu lunar year Sarvajit 27th Soma, on Chaitra Sukla Saptami, the 7th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra, under the Pushya star.
  2. ↑ Pushya Bahula Panchami – the fifth day of the dark half of the month of Pushya, in the Hindu calendar every year.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Aiyar, M. S. Ramaswami (1927). Thiagaraja: A Great Musician Saint. p. 62.
  2. ↑ "Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana". Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 233.
  4. ↑ "Tyagaraja: Iconic saint-poet of Carnatic music whose name came up in Parliament". The Indian Express. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ↑ The saint and the king: on the Serfoji-Tyagaraja relationship. The Hindu (2 March 2017). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.
  6. ↑ Sai, Veejay (26 May 2017). "The timelessness of Tyagaraja". Livemint. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sai, Veejay (15 January 2017). "Remembering Tyagaraja guardian saint Carnatic music his 250th birth anniversary". thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Kumar, Ranee (24 January 2013). "Retracing roots of Thyagaraja". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "Tiruvaiyaru gears up". The Hindu. 6 January 2006.
  10. ↑ "Manaku teliyani mana tyagaraju".
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 V, Sriram (12 April 2018). "The last five days of Tyagaraja". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  12. ↑ V, Sriram (12 April 2018). "The last five days of Tyagaraja". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Velcheru, Narayana Rao; David, Shulman, eds. (2002). Classical Telugu Poetry: An Anthology. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 298. ISBN 9780520225985.
  14. ↑ T.K.R, Sridharan (12 July 2022). God and Science. Notion Press. ISBN 979-8-88704-354-8.
  15. ↑ "The musical triumvirate". The Hindu. 24 January 2011.
  16. ↑ "Atop a hill, a historic temple". The Hindu. 26 February 2013.
  17. ↑ Upanishad Brahmendra | Sreenivasarao's blogs. Sreenivasaraos.com (22 February 2015). Retrieved on 2018-12-25.
  18. ↑ "Reviewing the Film – Thyagaiah - The Verandah Club". theverandahclub.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  19. ↑ Bureau, The Hindu (12 January 2023). "Thyagaraja Aradhana held amid religious fervour at Ongole". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "The bhaktha who craved more bhakthi". The Hindu. 31 January 2013.
  21. ↑ [1] [dead link]
  22. ↑ "Feature: Tyagaraja – The Exemplary Poet-Saint – Jan 2006". archive.sssmediacentre.org. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  23. ↑ Krishna, T. M. (4 May 2017). "Tyagaraja's musical span and insight reiterates his genius". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "Musicians pay homage to Saint Thyagaraja". The Hindu. 1 February 2013.
  25. ↑ "The Hollowed Halls of Tyagaraja". Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  26. ↑ Ramakrishnan, H. (11 February 2021). "A biopic on the bard of Tiruvaiyaru". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  27. ↑ Correspondent, Special (3 March 2023). "New raga named after Thyagaraja". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "SamyukthaKarnataka ePaper". 25 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  29. ↑ Pinto, Arun (19 January 2023). "Sri Tyagaraja – a New Raga in Carnatic Music by Mahesh Mahadev". News Karnataka. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  30. ↑ "Sri Tyagaraja - a new creation". www.sruti.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  31. ↑ Tyāgarāja, Swami (1969). The Pancha Ratna Kritis of Sri Tyagaraja: Text in Deva Nagari Script with an English Translation by T.S. Parthasarathy. Supplement: Notations in Tamil Script by V.S. Parthasarathy Iyengar (in தமிழ்). Music Club.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Suryanarayan, Renuka (11 February 2021). "The story behind the Pancharatnam rendition". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

Further reading[edit]

  • The Spiritual Heritage of Tyagaraja, by C. Ramanujachari with an introduction by Dr. V. Raghavan, Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.
  • Tyagaraja Kritigal (in Malayalam) by Prof P. R. Kumara Kerala Varma, Dept of Cultural Publications, Govt of Kerala, Trivandrum, 2000.
  • Tyagaraja Kirtanalu (in Telugu) by Smt Dwaraka Parthasarathy and Sri N.C. Parthasarathy, Tagore Publishing House, Kachiguda, Hyderabad, 1995 (Balasaraswati Book Depot, Kurnool).
  • Ramachandran, K.V., "The Melakarta: A Critique", The (Madras) Music Academy Platinum Jubilee Commemoration Volume, Vol. I, 1930–1940. (Original publication in the Journal of the Music Academy in 1938.)
  • Thyagaraju – Rama Darsanamu (In Telugu) by Dr. Mulukutla Brahmananda Sastry (part of the thesis approved by Andhra University, 1985.)
  • Shree Tyagaraja Keerthnai – Parthasarathy TS ( Tamil ) Paperback – 1 January 1970 by KMBC; 2010th edition (1 January 1970), ASIN  : B00CBQBXMU

External links[edit]

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