Tyagaraja

Tyagaraja on a 1961 Indian stamp

Kakarla Tyagabrahmam (Telugu: కాకర్ల త్యాగబ్రహ్మం) (May 4, 1767 – January 6, 1847), popularly called as Tyāgarāju (Telugu: త్యాగరాజు)or Tyāgayya and Tyāgarājar in Tamil, was most honoured saintly composer of South India. He was given the exalted status as one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music, one of the forms of Indian classical music. He composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in praise of Lord Rama, many of which remain popular today. Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Kritis (English: "five gems"), which are often sung in programs in his honor. Tyagaraja Aradhana, the commemorative music festival is held every year at Thiruvaiyaru in the months of January to February in his honour. A crater on the planet Mercury is named Tyagaraja.

Quotes

• Wont you draw back the curtain within me,
  O Lord Venkataramana of Tirupati, Open up this screen of envy.
  • Jackson, William Joseph (1 January 1994). Tyāgarāja and the Renewal of Tradition: Translations and Reflections. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 169–. ISBN 978-81-208-1146-1. 

• What is the use of sangita (music without bhakti).
  • Quoted in "Tyāgarāja and the Renewal of Tradition: Translations and Reflections", page=173

About Tyagaraja

• It is impossible to name another person in this world who can be said to be equal to Tyagaraja in Rama Bhakthi.
• If Thyagaraja only once with prema called ‘Rama’ forthwith came the response from Sri Rama. O!Thyagaraja, here I am.
  • Above two quotes from "Tyāgarāja and the Renewal of Tradition: Translations and Reflections", page=69

• With...passionate devotion to the ideals of beauty, harmony, freedom, and aspiration… had the strongest impact on society.
  • Dr Radhakrishnan in “Sri Thyagaraja’s life and work have moved multitudes in South India to spiritual ecstasy and noble living", page=169

• The greatest songster-saint that the world has ever produced...He was full of love and devotion to the lord and he had direct ;;w:Darshan|darsana]] [Vision] of the Lord and had also Cosmic Consciousness.
  • Svami Sivananda in “Sri Thyagaraja’s life and work have moved multitudes in South India to spiritual ecstasy and noble living", page=169

• It is as a pioneer who has enlarged the possibilities of the art [of Karnataka Music] that Tygayyar is entitled to our fullest admiration...and he is one of the greatest singers of all times whose influence is closely woven into national thought and action. Tirumalya Naidu in his book of Tyagaraja written in 1910.
• Tyagaraja is my Bible; I quote Tyagaraja all the time — as with Shakespeare there is something for any occasion.
  • C.V. Narasimhan in “Sri Thyagaraja’s life and work have moved multitudes in South India to spiritual ecstasy and noble living", page=170

• Proverbially, Thyagaraja’s songs are said to be like grapes that is immediately enjoyable
  • Jestice, Phyllis G. (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 791. ISBN 978-1-57607-355-1. 

• Whenever I go to south India, I hear the songs of Saint Thyagaraja.
  • Mahatma Gandhi quoted in Bossy, Michel-Andre; Brothers, Thomas (2001). Artists, Writers, and Musicians. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 185. ISBN 978-1-57356-154-9. 

• Known as the Bethovan of India he occupies a place in South Indian Music in some respects comparable to that of [[w:Ludwig Van Bethoven in the music of Western Europe, Not only did he compose music that established enduring repertoire and remains at its center. But he also defined a new kind of cultural consciousness. Even today, Tyagaraja’s songs are thought to represent the best of South India’s cultural heritage.
  • Quoted in "Artists, Writers, and Musicians", page=185