Tyagaraja

Tyāgarāja
Background information
Born May 4, 1767
Origin Tiruvarur, Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India
Died January 6, 1847 (age 79)
Genres Carnatic music
Occupations Carnatic Composer

Kakarla Tyagabrahmam (Telugu: త్యాగరాజు) (May 4, 1767–January 6, 1847), colloquially known as Tyāgarājar and Tyagayya, was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or classical South Indian music. He, along with his contemporaries Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastry, forms the Trinity of Carnatic music. He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the development of the South Indian classical music tradition. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama — most of which remain very popular even today. Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Krithis (English: 'five gems'), which are often sung in programs in his honor.

Contents

Personal life and background

Tyagaraja was born in 1767 in Tiruvarur, Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, to Kakarla Ramabrahmam and Sitamma in a Telugu Brahmin family of the Mulukanadu subsect.[1] He was named Tyagaraja, after Lord Tyagaraja, the presiding deity of the temple at Tiruvarur. Tyagaraja was born at his maternal grandfather Giriraja Kavi's house. Giriraja Kavi was a poet-composer in the court of the king of Thanjavur.

Musical career

Indian Music
Indian classical music
Carnatic music
Hindustani music
Core Concepts
Shruti · Swara · Alankar · Rāga · Tāla

Tyagaraja began his musical training under Sonti Venkataramanayya, a noted music scholar, at an early age. He regarded music as a way to experience God's love. His objective while practising music was purely devotional, as opposed to focusing 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.

A few years later, Sonti Venkataramanayya invited Tyagaraja to perform at his house in Thanjavur. On that occasion, Tyagaraja sang Endaro Mahaanubhavulu, the fifth of the Pancharatna Krithis. Pleased with Tyagaraja's composition, Sonti Venkataramanayya informed the King of Thanjavur about 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, composing another gem of a kriti, Nidhi Chala Sukhama (English: "Does wealth bring happiness?") on this occasion.

Angered at Tyagaraja's rejection of the royal offer, his brother threw the statues of Rama Tyagaraja used in his prayers into the nearby Kaveri river. Tyagaraja, unable to bear the separation with his Lord, went on pilgrimages to all the major temples in South India and composed many songs in praise of the deities of those temples.

Tyagaraja, who was totally immersed in his devotion to Lord Rama and led the most spartan way of life without bothering in the least for the comforts of the world, did not take any steps to systematically codify his vast musical output. The late Rangaramanuja Iyengar, a leading researcher on Carnatic music, in his work Kriti Manimalai, has described the situation prevailing at the time of death of Tyagaraja. It is said that a major portion of his incomaparable musical work was lost to the world due to natural and man-made calamities. Usually Tyagaraja used to sing his compositions sitting before idols of Lord Rama, and his disciples noted down the details of his compositions in palm leaves. After his death, these palm leaves came in the possession of the disciples, and to several families descending from the disciples. Thus a definitive edition of Thyagaraja's songs did not exist.

However the popularity of his songs was widespread. Great musical experts like Kancheepuram Nayana Pillai, Simizhi Sundaram Iyer and Veenai Dhanammal saw the infinite possibilities for imaginative music inherent in the compositions of Thyagaraja and systematically notated the songs available to them. Subsequently, indefatigable researchers like K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar and Rangaramanuja Iyengar took enormous pains to contact various teachers and families who had the possession of the palm leaves. K. V. Srinivasa Iyengar brought out Adi Sangeetha Rathnavali and Adi Thyagaraja Hridhayam (in 3 volumes). Rangaramanuja Iyengar published Kriti Mani Malai in two volumes. Kriti Mani Malai is a monumental research effort.

Further, Musiri Subramania Iyer, the doyen of Bhava Sangeetham, had a vast collection of books in his library. T. K. Govinda Rao, his disciple, brought out an excellently researched volume of the songs of Tyagaraja in English and the Devanagari script. T. S. Parthasarathy, a leading scholar on Tyagaraja, published the text and meaning of Tyagaraja's songs, very popular among teachers and students alike.

There are many publications in Telugu, too, which are not as comprehensive as the works of Rangaramanuja Iyengar and T. K. Govinda Rao.

Thus, due to the painstaking labour of these musicians and researchers, there now exists a stable and definitive collection of Thyagaraja's music. Out of 24,000 thousand songs said to be composed by Tyagaraja, around 700 songs have survived.

In addition to nearly 700 compositions (kritis), Tyagaraja 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.

it is the fact that Tyagaraja's works are some of the best and most beautiful literary expressions in Telugu language,which every telugu person who is blessed to know the kritis agrees. Valmiki composed the Ramayana, the story of Rama, with 24,000 verses, and coincidentally Tyagaraja, too, composed 24,000 kritis in praise of the Lord.

K.V. Ramachandran, a well-known 20th-century Indian music critic, 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 Thyagaraja that distinguishes him from his illustrious contemporaries." In other words, while Tyagaraja's contemporaries were primarily concerned with bringing to audiences the music of the past, Tyagaraja, apart from doing the same, also pioneered new musical concepts at the same time.

Sarvalaghu is the heart of Tyagraja's music. Tyagaraja's music is melody and rhythm personified. It is easy for children, a challenge for the learned, and a wonder for the genius.

In the publication "The Hindu speaks on music", tribute is paid to the great Carnatic music composer. "In his universality, he is like Shakespeare... Behind that magnificent achievement was a soul that had found itself. Unfashionable as it is to talk of such things, we must insist that one who would ignore the mainspring of Tyagaraja's inspiration, the mystic's love of God, can never hope to understand him or feel a fraction of his haunting charm. A sublime certitude marked the march through life of this humble man who could look with unerring insight into the heart of the peasant and the prince, the footpad and the fashionable roue. He was tempted neither by pomp and power nor by the vanity of wealth. He had antagonism for none, his heart was full of compassion. He yearned to bring to his fellowmen the peace that passeth understanding. In the company of the dedicated spirits of all time - Prahlada, Narada and Sukha - his immortal genius ministers to our need for sweetness and light."

Remembrance

Tyagaraja Aradhana, the commemorative music festival is held every year at Thiruvaiyaru in the months of January to February in Tyagaraja's honour. 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,[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, nagasvarams, mridangams and ghatams.

Popular culture

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. The legendary Chittor V. Nagaiah made a biographical epic on Tyagaraja titled Tyagayya in 1946 which is still treated as a masterpiece of Telugu cinema. Nagayya's rendition of Endaro Mahanubhavulu and its picturisation is treated as a matchless classic even today. Later, Bapu - Ramana made Tyagayya in 1981 with J. V. Somayajulu in the lead role. Another attempt is being made by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao to picturise the life of Tyagaraja.

Compositions

The term pancharatna in Sanskrit means five gems: The Pancharatnas are known as the five finest gems of carnatic music. All the Pancharatnas are set to adi thalam. They are set in perfect sarvalaghu and contain all the musical and mathematical wonders of carnatic music. So far as Pancharathnas are concerned, fortunately 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 full, exhaustive and complete treatment as to how to systematically and scientifically develop a raga. The Pallavis and anupallavis of the Pancharatnas are absolute musical and rhythmic beauties and an earnest practice of the Pallavis and anupallavis of the Pancjaratna will reveal as to how to develop a raga in a methodical and systematic manner. The two fundamental conditions that must be satisfied for a 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 in an unparalleled manner. The Pancharatnas are composed in perfect sarvalaghu swaras.

Ghana raga Pancha Ratna Krithis

త్యాగరాజ పంచరత్న కృతులు

# Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
1 jagadAnanda kAraka nATa Adi Sanskrit

MS Subbulakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voyxn7zsvGE
M.Balamurali Krishna - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdls4HJ6Wo

2 duDuku gala gOuLa Adi Telugu Malladi Brothers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvCQ1UNztKU
3 sAdhincene O manasA Arabhi Adi Telugu M.Balamurali Krishna - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqopEZLe13A
4 kanakana ruci rA varALi Adi Telugu Hyderabad Brothers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHitPjnim6g
5 endarO mahAnubhAvulu Sri Adi Telugu

MS Subbulakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98vu-xKuLRU
Priya Sisters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7u7VBhMwZA

Kovuri (Gopura) Sundareswara Pancha Ratna Krithis

# Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
1 SambhO mahAdEva pantu varALi rUpaka Sanskrit
2 sundarEswaruni cUcina sankarAbharaNam Adi Telugu
3 I vasudhA nI vanti daivamu sahana Adi Telugu RK Srikanthan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r_UC4NqRi4
4 kOrisevimparAre kharaharapriya Adi Telugu
5 nammivachina kalyAni rUpaka Telugu

Lalgudi Pancha Ratna Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
lalitE srI pravRddhE bhairavi Sanskrit TM Krishna - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gplKbGJhdL8

Srirangam Pancharatna Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Description Audio Links
cUtAmu rArE Arabhi rUpaka Telugu
O ranga SAyI yani palichitE kAmbhOji Telugu T M Krishna - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/album/10-Classical_Carnatic_Vocal/24080-O_Rangasayee_Vol_2_/#/album/10-Classical_Carnatic_Vocal/24080-O_Rangasayee_Vol_2_/
rAju veDalE cUtAmu rAre thODi rUpaka Telugu Priya Rathakrishnan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsPiApZXFgs

Tripura Sundari (Tiruvottiyur) Pancha Ratna Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
sundari nI divya rUpamunu kalyAni Adi Telugu
sundari ninu Arabhi Telugu

Dharma Samvardhini Devi Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
Amba ninnu nammitinanTE Arabhi Adi Telugu
parASakthi manuparAdA nA pai sAvEri Adi Telugu
vidhi SakrAdulaku dorakunA yamunA kalyANi rUpaka Telugu

Kanchi Kamakshi Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
vinAyakuni valenu brOvavE madhyamAvati Adi Telugu MS Subbulakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iasgmyGATNQ

Pancha nadeeswara Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
muccata bramhAdulaku dorakuna madhyamAvati Adi Telugu R.Vedavalli - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9etMsXgL1lQ

Tirupati Venkateswara Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language 'Description Audio Links
tera tIyaga rAdA goULi pantu Adi Telugu

Ranjani & Gayatri - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mXgYrOiDeo
MS Subbulakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQHjNqbALB4

venkaTESA ninnu sEvimpanu madhyamAvati Adi Telugu Radha & Jaya Lakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY72rZFmcKU

Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam

Composition Raga Tala Language Description Audio Links
aDugu varamulaniccedanu Arabhi misRa cApu Telugu
E nATi nOmu phalamO bhairavi Adi Telugu

MS Subbulakshmi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQHjNqbALB4
Nedunuri Krishna Murthy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Sc1k-rDUM

ETi janmamidi rA varALi misra cApu Telugu
ipudainanu talacinArA Arabhi misra cApu Telugu
rArA mA inTidAkA asAvEri Adi Telugu

M.Balamurali Krishna - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsfAy6WgQZw
Priya Sisters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LLCxx-nxYc
Unnikrishnan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rwKBdJH9Y

srI gaNapatini sEvimpa rArE sourASTra Adi Telugu
tanalOnE dhyAninchi tanmayamE kAvalerA dEva gAndhAram Adi Telugu
vAsudEva yani kaLyANi Adi Telugu
vinatA suta rA rA hussEni Adi Telugu

Nouka Charitram

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
cAlu cAlu nI yuktulu naDavavu sAvEri Adi Telugu
evaru manaku samAnamevarilalO dEva gAndhAram Adi Telugu
gandhamu puyyaru gA punnAga varALi Adi Telugu
ODanu jaripe muccata sAranga Telugu

Utsava Sampradaya Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
heccarikagA rA rA yadukula kAmbhoji khanda cApu Telugu
jO jO rAma rIti gowLa Adi Telugu lullaby
kshIra sAgara vihArA Ananda bhairavi jhampa Telugu
lAli yUgavE nIlambari rUpaka Telugu lullaby
nagu mOmu kala vAni madhyamAvati Adi Telugu Modumudi Sudhakar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35z70jSxMSk
nA pAli sRI rAmA Telugu nalugu pATa
mElukOvayya mammEluko rAma boWLi khnDa cApu Telugu mElu kolupu pATa
uyyAlalUgavayyA sRI rAma nIlambari Adi Telugu lullaby

Divya Nama Sankeertanas

Composition Raga Tala Language Audio Links Other Info
callarE rAma candruni pai pUlu Ahiri misRa cApu Telugu Pantula Rama - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQbfPzPTXNI
daSaradha nandana dAnava mardana asAvEri Adi Telugu
dIna janAvanA SrI rAmA bhUpalam Adi Sanskrit
maravakurA nava manmadha rUpuni dEva gAndhAram Adi Telugu
nArAyaNa hari nArayaNa hari yamunA kaLyANi Adi Telugu
O rAma O rAma OmkAra dhAma Arabhi Adi Telugu
pAhi rAma rAmA yanucu bhajana sEyavE khara hara priya rUpaka Telugu
pAhimAm harE mahAnubhAva rAghava soUrAsTra rUpaka Telugu
pAlaya srI raghu vIra dEva gAndhAram Adi Telugu
rAma pAhi mEgha shyAma pAhi kApi Adi Telugu
rAma rAma rAma mAm pAhi yamunA kaLyANi Adi Telugu
vandanamu raghu nandanA Sahana Adi Telugu
vara lIla gAna lOlA sankarAbharaNam trisRa laghu Sanskrit

Non-Group Krithis

Composition Raga Tala Language Description Audio Links
abhimAnamu lEdEmi AndhALi misRa cApu Telugu
ADamODi galadE cAru kEshi Adi Telugu
anurAgamu lEni manasuna saraswati rUpaka Telugu
aparAdhamulanOrva rasALi Telugu
appa rAma bhakti entO goppara rA pantu varALi rUpaka Telugu

Savitha Narasimhan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8DRd1kfLdM

AragimpavE tODi rUpaka Telugu

Nedunuri Krishna Murthy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLjAXRbrgVw

bAgAyenayyA nI mAyalentO candra jyOti dEsha Adi Telugu
banTu rIti koluviavayya rAma hamsa nAdam dEsha Adi Telugu

T N Seshagopalan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGZEmn3BY4

brOva bAramA bahudAri Adi Telugu
cakkani rAja mArgamE yunDaga khara hara priya Adi Telugu
daya cEyavayya sadaya rAma candra yadukula kAmbhOji Adi Telugu
dinamaNi vamsa tilaka lAvanyA hari kAmbhOji Adi Telugu

ML Vasanta Kumari - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AGeWInhVmk

dhyAname varamaina gangA snAnamu rA dhanyAsi Telugu
dwaitamu sukhamA rIti goULa Telugu
E dAri sancharinturA sRti ranjani dESa Adi Telugu

Modumudi Sruthi Ranjani - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3P7nGC-IVc

E tAvuna rA nilakaDa nIku kalyANi Adi Telugu
Emani pagaDudu rA vIra vasantam Telugu
Emi dOva balkumA sAranga Adi Telugu
ennALLu tirigEdi mALava srI Adi Telugu
enta vEDukondu rAghavA saraswati manOhari Adi Telugu
evaricciri rA Sara cApamu madhyamAvati Telugu
evvari mATa vinnAvO kAmbhoji Adi Telugu
gAnamUrtE gAna mUrthi dEsha Adi Sanskrit
giri pai nelakonna sahana Telugu
hari dAsulu veDalE muccaTa ganu yamunA kaLyANi Adi Telugu
kAla haraNamEla rA harE shuddha dhanyAsi Adi Telugu
kalugunA pada nIraja sEva pUrNa lalita Adi Telugu
karuNA samudrA rAma dEva gAndhari Adi Telugu
koluvai unnADE dEva gAndhari Telugu
ksIra sAgara SayanA dEva gAndhari Adi Telugu
mA jAnaki jata battaga kAmbhoji rUpaka Telugu
manasA eTulOrtunE malaya mArutam rUpaka Telugu
manasA srI rAma candruni maruvakE Isha manOhari Telugu
manavi AlakincarAdaTE naLina kAnti dEsha Adi Telugu
mari mari ninnE kAmbhoji Adi Telugu
marugEla rA O rAghavA jayanta srI dESa Adi Telugu

Priya Sisters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCbdtXBCDk4

mOhana rAma mOhana Adi Telugu
mOkshamu galadA sAramati Adi Telugu

ML Vasanta Kumari - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsKLnL7gWjI

nAda lOluDai bramhAnandamandavE kalLyANa vasanta rUpaka Telugu

Rajkumar Bharati - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLjea81ztMI

nAda sudhA rasambilanu Arabhi rUpaka Telugu
nAda tanum anisham citta ranjani Adi Sanskrit
nagu mOmu kana lEni abhEri Adi Telugu
nA moralanu vini Arabhi Adi Telugu
nA morAlakimpavEmi srI rAma dEva gAndhari rUpaka Telugu
nanu kanna talli sindhu kannada Adi Telugu

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QOmZ2BcMG8

nArada gAna lOla aThANA Adi Telugu
nidhi cAlA sukhamA kalyANi misRa cApu Telugu
nija marmamulanu telisina vAriki umAbharaNam Adi Telugu
ninnE bhajana sEyu nATa rUpaka Telugu
ninnE nera namminAnu pantu varALi rUpaka Telugu
niravadi sukhadA ravi candrika Adi Sanskrit
O rAjIvAksha OrajUpulu jUcEvErA Arabhi misRa cApu Telugu
rAga sudhA rasa pAnamu AndOLika Adi Telugu
palukavEmi nA daivamA pUrNa candrika Adi Telugu
para lOka bhayamu lEka mandAri Adi Telugu
raghu nAyakA nI padayuga hamsa dhwani Adi Telugu
rAmA kOdanda rAmA bhairavi Adi Telugu
rAkA SaSi vadana inta parAkA takka Adi Telugu
rAma kadhA sudhA rasa pAnamu madhyamAvati Adi Telugu
ramincu vArevaru rA supOshiNi dESa Adi Telugu
rAnidi rAdu maNirangu Telugu
sAmaja Vara GamanA hindoLam Adi Sanskrit
sangIta gnyAnamu bhakti vinA dhanyAsi Telugu

savitha Namuduri - http://snamuduri1.googlepages.com/sangIta_gnyAnamu.wav

sarasa sAma dAna kApI nArayaNi dEsha Adi Telugu

Manda Sudha Rani - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsPiApZXFgs

sItamma mAyamma vasanta rUpaka Telugu
sItApatE nA manasuna siddhAntamani khamAs rUpaka Telugu
sItAvara sangIta gnyAnamu dhAta vrAyavale rA dEva gAndhAri Adi Telugu
smaraNE sukhamu jana ranjani Adi Telugu
SObhillu sapta swara jaganmOhini rUpaka Telugu
sogasu cUDa taramA kannaDa gouLa rUpaka Telugu

Thirvaiyyaru P.Sekhar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34x0uqj6MF8 ||

sogasugA Mridanga sri ranjani rUpaka Telugu
srI raghukulamandu putti nIvu hamsa dhwani Adi Telugu
srI rAma pAdamA amRta vAhini Adi Telugu
sudhA mAdurya bhAshaNA sindhu rAma kriya Telugu
telisi rAma cintana tO pUrnNa candrika Adi Telugu
teliyalEru rAma dhEnuka Adi Telugu
tulaSammA mA inTa nelakonnAvammA dEva gAndhAram dESa Adi Telugu
tulasI daLamula cE santoshamu gA pUjintu mAyA mALava gouLa rUpaka Telugu
vidulaku mrokkeda mAyA mALava goULa Telugu
vinarAdA nA manavi dEva gAndhAri Telugu
yOcanA kamala lOcanA darbAr Adi Telugu

Miscellaneous Compositions

Kriti Raga
abhishta varadA
lIla gAnu jUcE dundhubi Only kriti in this raga
sArasa nEtra

See also

References

  1. ^ His date of birth according to the Hindu lunar year Sarvajit 27th Soma, on Chaitra Sukla Sapthami, 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.

External links

The "Thyagaraj Sports Complex" is one of the competition venues for CWG 2010.