Saint Thyagaraja was born on 4th May 1767 to Kakarla Ramabrahamam and
Seethamma in Thanjavur district of Tamilanadu. He was proficient in both
Telugu, his mother tongue and Sanskrit. He started his musical training
under Sonti Venkataramanayya, a noted music scholar in the court of
Thanjavur king. He composed his first musical composition "Namo Namo
Raghavaya" at the age of 13. Saint Thyagaraja was a very spiritual
devotee of Lord Rama, he regarded music as a way to experience the love
of God. He is remembered both for his devotion and the bhāva (‘emotion’)
of his krithi, a song form consisting of pallavi, (the first section of
a song) anupallavi (a rhyming section that follows the pallavi) and
caranam (a sung stanza; serves as a refrain for several passages of the
composition). The Saint is well known for his five compositions
collectively called as Pancharathna Kritis (five gems) composed in five
different ragas. His compositions always include his signature
"Thyagaraja" in them.The Tyagaraja Aradhana festival is held in January when most of the
leading exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by
thousands of ardent fans of Indian classical music. A huge complex is
now under construction at Thiruvaiyaru at this site to accommodate the
large audience that come to the concert in ever increasing numbers every
year.
