SALUTING THE GREAT SAINT THYAGARAJA

    

 

Tyagaraja is widely regarded as one of three major composers – known as the Trinity – of Carnatic Music who flourished in Tanjore or Thanjavur in the early 19th century, the others being Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri.

 Thiruvaiyaru is recognised as the place where one member of the trinity of carnatic music, Saint Thyagaraja lived and attained samadhi. The best time to visit the temple is during a music festival held every January to commemorate the birthday of the saint.

 The Aradhana is conducted by the Sri Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha and is held in the precincts of the samadhi (memorial) of the saint located at Thiruvaiyaru village, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

 As a mark of respect and thanksgiving to the saint, Carnatic musicians from all over the world get together and pay their reverence to the Saint by singing the Pancharatna kritis on the Pushya Bahula Panchami - the day when he attained Samadhi. This is an integral feature of the Aradhana.

 Today the 177th Aradhana of the great Saint and Composer was celebrated. It was telecasted LIVE in DD TAMIL channel. Popular carnatic musicians and general public participated in large numbers. Not only vocalist, instrumental artist of   veena, flute, ghatam, morsing, kanjira, mrudangam, violin, Nadaswaram and thavil vidwans offered their respects by playing the instruments as accompaniments for the singers.

It started by around 8.30am in the morning and concluded by 10.30am. All the PANCHARATNA KRITIS were sung in unison and the whole atmosphere was mesmerising.

The famous five gems of thyagaraja - As its name clearly implies, the Pancharatna Krithis consists of a cycle of five sacred art songs (In Sanskrit, 'pancha' means five, and ' ratna' means jewel or gem.) in honour of Rama. It is Tyagaraja's magnum opus: It is also the greatest composition in Carnatic music. Listening to these kritis sung by artists of high fame sitting together was really an enjoyable moment.  

In today’s Aradhana festival vocalist like SIKKIL GURU CHARAN, O.S.ARUN, SANDEEP NARAYANAN, SUDHA RAGHUNATHAN, GAYAYTHRI GIRISH, MAHATHI, RADHA BHASKAR, SUBHA GANESH, GAYATHRI VENKATRAGHAVAN, NITHY SHREE MAHADEVAN, SUCHITRA AND VASUDHA RAVI participated.

For music lovers this day marks a special event in their calendar as it is a golden chance of rendering the kritis and listening to the same sung by their favourite singers.

If you like to watch the recorded version , click here