Author: Sumanth Ganapathi Basavapatna (8 yrs)
Thyagaraja was born in Tiruvyaru in Tamilnadu. His father was Ramabramham and mother, Seethamma. His interest in music was extraordinary. This made Seethamma to teach him Geethaas like Lambodara, Kereyaneeranu, etc. He was joined to a Sanskrit Pathashala. He was an exellent student, especially in music. Noticing his interest in music, Ramabramham joined Thyagaraja to learn carnatic music from Sonti Venkataramanayya, one of the most talented musicians of those days. He learnt so well that he could light a lamp just by music. After his musical education, Thyagaraja grew extreme devotion in Lord Rama. In the morning, he used to do pooja to Rama for eight hours or so. The parents of some children joined them to learn from Thyagaraja. The great saint just composed Krithis drowned in the Mahasamudra of Shri Rama. So he was not teaching like other teachers. The students found it tough to record the whole Krithi at once. So they split the Krithi into four different parts. They were the Svara, Anupallavi, Pallavi and the Sahithya. This way, they could record the song easily. The practice hungry students recorded the Krithi and went to the banks of the Kaveri river to practice the Krithi. The fame of Shri Thyagaraja spread far and wide. The ruler of Thanjavur invited him to sing in his court. When the proposal reached the hut of the saint, the lazy, foolish elder brother of Thyagaraja answered on behalf of his brother, "Oh, of course! An honour for the family!". But the angered Thyagaraja burst into a powerful song. The stunned soldiers returned and Jalpesha was left furious. This time, he would hurt Thyagaraja the way he would be hurt the most, and that was stealing the idol which Thyagaraja worshipped. That night, Jalpesha and the youngest brother who also hated Thyagaraja stole the Rama murthy from the Gudi. When Thyagaraja woke up next morning, during the morning prayer he found the idol missing. He as usual composed a Krithi, full of sorrow. Just carrying the name of Rama on his lips, Thyagaraja stayed out of home, just looking for the idol. Jalpesha occupied the house. One day, as he was wandering along the streets of the village looking for the idol, he saw something sticking out of the sand near the Kaveri river. It was the Rama idol! Thyagaraja was over-joyed. He returned home joyfully, hugging the idol. When he came home, Jalpesha did not allow him to come inside. Someone who had come to talk to Jalpesha stopped him. Once, Thyagaraja had been told that Rama would appear in front of him if he chanted 'Om Ramaya Namaha' hundred thousand times. He finished his quota one day. Just then, Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman appeared before Thyagaraja, blessed him and dissappeared. Thyagaraja felt as if thunder was entering him. He burst into a song. In his eighties, Thyagaraja went on a pilgrimage to all Rama's holy spots. He performed many miracles. Once, while going through a forest, a few dacoits attacked the palaquin with stones from a distance. Thyagaraja prayed to lord Rama to help him. Suddenly, many arrows rained through the sky, attacking the dacoits. The harrased raiders fell at the feet of the great saint and became his disciples. One day, at a program or conference Thyagaraja was drowned in meditation to lord Rama. In this, his soul departed and was included in Rama's heart. So here ends the legend of the great saint who was one of the 'Thrimoorthys of carnatic music.
Shi Ram Ki Jai!
Shri Thyagaraja