Power of Guru

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Once, while Thyagaraja was engrossed in singing kirtans, a renunciate

named Ramakrishnananda arrived on their doorstep. The couple welcomed

him by offering the little fruit they had in store. Pleased by their

service, he offered them a boon. Thyagaraja replied: " O Yogiraj! The

stalwart renunciates never arrive without a purpose. All I ask is for a

Guru - Mantra to cross 'Sansar' " . Ramakrishnananda commanded Thyagaraja:

" Recite the Rama mantra ten million times and Lord Rama will redeem

you. "

 

Resolutely, Thyagaraja commenced chanting the Rama mantra, 125,000 times

every day. When he was 38 years old, he completed the Rama mantra. By

Lord Rama's grace, he attained Vachan Siddhi'. This meant that whatever

he spoke would prove true. In addition, even in his sleep, while his

lips remained closed, one could hear the incessant chanting of 'Rama,

Rama'.

 

But a constant fear troubled him. By Vachan siddhi' one could not only

do good to others, but curse them as well. What could be the outcome, he

wondered, if an ugly incident arose and he cursed someone? He quickly

held a yagna on completion of his japas. He offered back to Rama the

Vachan 'Siddhi' he had been granted. By renouncing this siddhi, he also

remained true to the meaning of his name-Thyagaraj, King of

Renunciation.

 

At that time, he heard a knock at the door. On opening it, he witnessed

an unbelievable sight - a teenage form of Lord Rama, accompanied by

Lakshman and the Rishi, Viswamitra. Transfixed on seeing his Lord, he

forgot to welcome them. Divine rays emanating from Lord Rama entered

Thyagaraja's body and soon the divine darshan ended. Only then did

Thyagaraja come to his senses and repented for failing to welcome them.

Deeply regretting this, the kirtans he composed thereafter, all pined

for the Lord. These kirtans and his music spread his fame all over.

People regarded him as a saintly personality and began to flock to his

hut.

 

Sage Narada blessed him with a visit and gifted him 'Swavarnava Siddhi'.

By this, his knowledge and musical talents improved markedly.

 

King Sharbhoj invited him to his court. But Thyagaraja refused saying:

" Only Lord Rama's name plays on my tongue. Never will it sing praises of

a king. The head which has bowed to Lord Rama will not bow to a king. By

forsaking Lord Rama's seva, I will not adopt royal service. I only know

Lord Rama's palace and if it is my good fortune, there I will go. "

 

On receiving this message, the King did not get angry but, himself

decided to visit Thyagaraja. When his elder brother Jayesh heard the

news that Thyagaraja had refused to visit the court, he was infuriated,

since he craved for the worldly riches which the king would have gifted

Thyagaraja. He therefore grabbed Lord Rama's murti and flung it in the

nearby river Kaveri. Loving this murti more than his own soul,

Thyagaraja plunged into the river. People on the banks watched aghast.

Thyagaraja swam to the bottom and somehow located the murti. Onlookers

hailed him and scorned Jayesh.

 

Now old age had set in. He composed hundreds of kirtans dedicated to

Lord Rama. His wife Kamala died. This deeply saddened Thyagaraja.

Henceforth, his poems reflected this sorrow and lamentations for Kamala.

He then renounced to become a sanyasi. Soon in 1847, he passed away and

joined Lord Rama in Vaikunth.

 

Meditate on Om. Know this sacred syllable Om. You will know everything.

You will attain the Highest Knowledge.

- Swamiji Sivananda