(From the glorious life of Thyagaraja Swami)

[Guest guest]

Power of Guru

(From the glorious life of Thyagaraja Swami)

By Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar

Compositions of Thyagaraja Swami are well known in all families in South

India. Blessed with exceptional musical talent, Thyagaraja spurned fame

and riches and devoted his life to Lord Ramachandra. His compositions

have the capacity to instill devotion, joy and happiness in the hearts

of all.

 

Thyagaraja was born as the third child to Brahmin parents, Rama Brahma

and Shanta Devi, in 1767 at Thiruvayaru, near Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu.

The parents had prayed in the local Thyagaraja Temple and mother Shanta

Devi had a divine darshan with the message: " I am pleased with your seva

and bhakti. A great singer and a bhakta of Lord Rama will be born to

you. "

 

When the bhakta was born, Rama Brahma named him Thyagaraja, since he was

born by the blessings of Thyagaraja. When he was five, his father began

to teach him Telugu. Both parents also took him to Thyagaraja Mandir

where the boy listened to kirtans. Often he would also join in the

singing. The adult singers appreciated his sweet voice and singing

style. Noticing his innate musical ability Rama Brahma arranged for him

to learn music.

 

He became Shondi Venkataraman's pupil. The Guru was a famous teacher at

the royal court of Thanjavur. Thyagaraja studied sincerely. By the age

of 16, he had mastered many aspects of music. He began to compose and

sing kirtans on Lord Rama. Simultaneously, he studied Sanskrit. After

obtaining the Guru's blessings, he returned home.

 

Thyagaraja never envisaged his musical abilities as a source of income.

For this reason his elder brothers often quarreled with him. When 18,

Thyagaraja married Parvati. Soon Thyagaraja's parents expired. Four

years later Parvati too died. This increased Thyagaraja's detachment

from the world. But at people's behest he re-married Parvati's sister

Kamala. After marriage, Thyagaraja continued his deep devotion, singing

Lord Rama's kirtans for hours at a time. This infuriated Jayesh, his

eldest brother, who supported the household. Jayesh rebuked Thyagaraja

saying that singing kirtans would not bring home food. How long could he

support him and his wife?

 

Thyagaraja relinquished his father's property to him and retired to a

hut away from the village. Thyagaraja comforted his wife: " Do not worry.

In this isolated retreat, it will be even more joyous to offer devotion.

Lord Rama is here to care for us. He may awaken us hungry but he will

not lest us sleep so. " Kamala had the grace not to demand perishable

worldly objects from her husband, who was totally immersed in devotion.

 

(to be contd..)

(Source Shri Sai Padananda April 1989)