Tyagaraja Swami was a South Indian Telugu Brahmin. He was the son of Rama Brahman. Panchapakesan and Ramanathan were his brothers. Tyagaraja had only a daughter, named Seethalakshmi, who had a son Tyagaraja, named after the grandfather.

Tyagaraja Swami was a great musician-saint of South India. He was the father of South Indian music. He was a devotee of Lord Rama. Most of his devotional songs are in praise of Lord Rama. They are highly inspiring and soul elevating.

Tyagaraja Swami is said to have composed twenty-four thousand Kirtans or songs in praise of Lord Rama. Most of his songs are in Telugu and a few are in Sanskrit. Only about five hundred of his songs are sung by the songsters of the present day. When devotional songs are sung with piety and devotion, they at once elevate the soul to magnanimous spiritual heights and melt the mind in the Lord and lead to communion and Bhava Samadhi.

Tyagaraja used to sing in the temple of Ambal at Thiruvaiyaru and worship the Devi before he proceeded for his daily Bhiksha. He adopted the Uncha Vritti profession and lived on Bhiksha, though he was well known throughout South India and many Maharajas were willing to have him as the Durbar singer.

Tyagaraja Swami was a superman. He had direct Darshan of Lord Rama on several occasions. The Vigrahams or the idols that he worshipped were thrown into the river. Tyagaraja received directions in the dream from Lord Rama and located the exact spot in the river where the Vigrahams lay buried underneath the sand, after one year.

The then Raja of Pudukkottai once tested the merits of the songsters in a strange way. He placed an unlit lamp amongst them. He challenged the experts to light the lamp with a song only without using a match or any other means. Tyagaraja Swami meditated upon Narada for a while, sang the Raga Jyotisvarupini, and the lamp lighted of itself. All were struck with wonder.

Tyagaraja Swami restored to life a person who was accidentally drowned in a temple well while returning from a pilgrimage to Tirupathi. He had the knowledge of the correct day and hour of the passing away of his soul form the physical body. Divine Rishi Narada gave him the book named Swararnavam for propagating high-class music.

Tyagaraja never cared for wealth or position in society. He was humble. He courted poverty. Once, king Saraboji, the Raja of Thanjavur, sent a message to Tyagaraja. The messenger said, "Kindly compose a song or two in praise of the Raja and he will give you ten acres of land and a bag full of gold". Tyagaraja replied, "Why should I use my music for flattering Rajas who lead a vicious life? Fie upon that cursed gold which goads people to indulge in vices and run after sensual enjoyments". He sang a song in Kalyani, "Nidhi Chala Sukhama". The meaning of the song is: "Which gives greater happiness-gold or worship of lord Rama? O soul! Speak the truth. Which is sweeter and more delicious-milk, butter and curd or the essence of the mectar of meditation and Bhajana of Rama? Which is more conducive to health - a dip in the Ganga of serenity of mind or in the muddy well of corruption? Which of the two is better-praise of a rich man who is puffed up with vanity or a song in praise of the all-merciful, omnipotent Lord?" The messenger did not speak a word. He left the place silently.

The then Maharaja of sent a messenger to fetch Tyagaraja at any cost. The messenger tempted Tyagaraja that the Maharaja would give him much wealth and a good position. Tyagaraja replied, "I regard wealth as an obstacle to man’s progress. It does not contribute any happiness to man. On the contrary, it brings all sorts of miseries. Only fools run after money". He then explained to the messenger the meaning of his song "Padavi Ni Sadbhakti" in Sakalabhairavi Raga: "That state of mind which places implicit faith in Rama is the real position in life. There are many who can repeat all the Vedas, Shastras and Upanishads like a parrot, but who do not live in the spirit of their teachings. Can such persons be regarded as having attained the real position? There are many persons who possess a mountain of wealth, a number of wives and children, and who enjoy the friendship of Maharajas. Can they be considered to have attained the real position? Can a person who holds a so-called good status in society, but who leads a life of evil passions and dire ignorance, be regarded as having attained the real position? No, no. Only that man who has implicit faith in Rama, who meditates on the Lord, and who has obtained His grace has attained the real position". The messenger went away quietly.

What a magnanimous soul was Tyagaraja! He spurned riches and position. The wealth of the three worlds is mere straw for a man who enjoys the wealth and bliss of God-realization. The state of such exalted souls is beyond description.

Tyagaraja Swami’s Samadhi is at Thiruvaiyaru on the banks of the Cauvery, about seven miles from the town of Thanjavur. All the songsters of South India assemble there and celebrate his anniversary with great joy every year in the month of January. In 1942 January, his 95^th anniversary was celebrated.

Glory to Tyagaraja Swami whose songs instill devotion, joy and happiness in the heart of the hearers.