My humblest of salutations to one of the best scions of the Telugu people, who is said to have composed 24,000 Krithis (mostly in Telugu). Though we have about 700 of them surviving, for me, it takes only two (నిధి చాల సుఖమా [Nidhi Cāla Sukhamā] & ఇంతకన్నానందమేమి ఓ రామ రామ? . . .

[Intakannānandamēmi ō Rāma Rāma?]) to understand the cruz of Sadhguru Śrī Tyāgarāja’s life. The former Krithi espouses the austerity, detachment, and humility that Tyāgarāja lived with, going so far as to sing this composition while refusing wealths and riches sent by a ruler! https://twitter.com/vishnudasa_/status/1335093025421336576

And can there be a Tyāgarāja without Rāma? Absolutely not. Tyāgarāja would himself be the first to oppose it. As the second Krithi reveals, nothing brings Tyāgarāja more joy & happiness the name of Rāma. His life’s work centered around expressing this bhaktī to Rāma in Telugu. https://twitter.com/vishnudasa_/status/1308431111748497408

Isn’t it something to devote your whole life to a greater cause? Starting from the age of 13 when he composed his first composition (Namō Namō Rāghavāya Aniśam) Tyagaraja’s life was subsumed by Rāma Bhakti. His first composition laid the groundwork for his stellar career. https://twitter.com/vishnudasa_/status/1334020675447758848

His own brother was staunchly opposed to the ascetic and humble lifestyle that Tyāgarāja was living (even threw out the images of Rāma that Tyāgarāja worshipped). But of course, Tyāgarāja used that moment of pain to compose ఎందు దాగినాడో (Endu dāgināḍō - Where Is He Hiding?) https://twitter.com/vishnudasa_/status/1335507725703376897

Indeed, it’s a testament to Tyāgarāja’s bhaktī through music that his beloved Rāma’s images are recovered by him near the Kaveri.

May we all aspire to have at least 1/1000th of the bhaktī that Tyāgarāja had towards Rāma (even that may be impossible) & ever remember his work.