Thyagaraja : The Bard who sang in 'suMdara tenuMgu'

January 19, 2006, is an important day in the Carnatic music world. This day [పుష్య బహుల పంచమి (Pushya Bahula Panchami) in the Hindu religious calendar] marks the 159th anniversary of the attainment of mOksha by Saint Thyagaraja, musician-composer par excellence, and a member of the Carnatic music trinity. The musician-saint will be remembered once again on this day when many Carnatic musicians assemble in Tiruvaiyaru and sing his kritis. We cannot fathom the greatness of such an eminent person in one article. Words fail miserably in describing his greatness. Shakespeare said, “…music is the food of love” (Twelfth Night). For Thyagaraja music was the food of his life. It is difficult to separate his life from music and devotion.

Hundreds of musicians pay homage to Thyagaraja

They render pancharathna kritis in chorus at the samadhi in Thiruvaiyaru

Thanjavur: Hundreds of musicians paid homage to saint composer Thyagaraja by rendering his pancharathna kritis in chorus at the 159th Thyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district on Thursday.

The aradhana is held every year on the Pushya Bagula Panchami day, when the saint composer attained samadhi.

The musicians sat in a row on either side of the samadhi on the banks of the Cauvery and rendered the kritis. Earlier, unchavruthi bhajan was taken out from his house on Thirumanjana veedhi to the samadhi. Aarthi was performed to the idol of Thyagaraja after the kritis.

The musicians who participated included Sudha Ragunathan, Unnikrishnan, Sirkali Siva Chidambaram, Bombay sisters, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and Haridwaramangalam A.K. Palanivel. Thyagaraja was born at Tiruvarur. Later he moved to Thiruvaiyaru and stayed at Thirumanjana veedhi. He sang in praise of Lord Rama. He attained samadhi in 1847.

The annual aradhana was performed by his grandson (daughter's son) till he died. Later, his disciples Ramu Iyengar and Umayalpuram brothers Panchu Bhagavathar and Sundara Bhagavathar conducted the aradhana. In 1907 the Umayalpuram brothers introduced music concerts in the aradhana.

Courtesy: The Hindu, ChennaiOnline