The message inThyagaraja's Compositions

Dr. R. Krishnaswamy and P. Sreenivasan

Hindus believe that from time to time there are born among us, persons known as "Avatara Purushas" who interpret religion and gospels in terms relevance to contemporary needs. While the scriptures are by their very nature relevant for all times, the practices which have grown out of the beliefs may need fresh interpretation. For example, "Sathyam Vadha Dharmamchara" etc. are absolute a nd not capable of being treated as re-interpretable. However, what constitutes "Dharma" at a given age, for a given caste or class or ashrama may not be relevant to a later day or different age. And, from time to time, to our good fortune, great men "Avatara Purushas", such as Sri Thyagaraja Swami, are born among us to lead us to kindly light; show us the way, interpreting, laying emphasis on, and teaching us the age old dharma, in the light of the needs of the times in which they are born.

Thyagaraja Swami was born in a society which had fanatic divisions; a society which made rituals an end in itself. Thyagaraja Swami, to awaken his people, interpreted the srutis and puranas and highlighted to the people that the moral and ethical content of religious practices are more important than the rituals; that the human mind is an all powerful tool and we humans, by using the mind intelligently, could achieve liberation from bondage and even in this world, could become a "Jeevan Muktha" or a liberated soul.

It is this philosophy that distinguished Sri Thyagarajaswamy from others. While there were many composers before him and while many of them have left us a treasure house of compositions and musical forms, their contributions were mostly in the form of namavalis (praise of God's name) or were pleadings to their personal god for protection. Unlike these composers, Sri Thygagaraja Swami dealt with Man - his problems, society's ills and the belief in wrong values. Thyagaraja Swami took these issues and undertook to write in his compositions messages that were ecumenical and catholic He criticized the warring factions, each claiming the validity of his own religion and belief, while belittling others' religion and beliefs, professing the superiority of its chosen deity over others. Thyagaraja Swami conveyed his message not be mere preaching but also by showing his beliefs through his own life; by living a simple and pure life. He demonstrated to the world that the purpose of education and erudition was to mould character. He illustrated this concept by comparing an educated man who has not learnt from his education to live an ethical life, to a donkey that carries a load of books. The donkey does not become any wiser for carrying those books.

Thyagaraja Swami stressed again and again that humanity is not simply following the rituals of a religion but humanity is faithfulness, compassion to fellow creatures and understanding and accepting of others. These qualities are what makes one charitable and one religious and pious; not mere rituals without understanding. "Thiaga" that is part of our rituals is not just giving or donating but it means unattachment . It is messages such as these that made Sri Thyagaraja Swami a legend during his own life time. No other composer has been praised so highly by so many generations of other composers and admired by so many people in the world. It is because of these attributes that Thyagaraja Swami is the only composer for whom there is an Aradhana celebration in many parts of the world.

Some of the following episodes and writings exemplify the great admiration other scholars had for Saint Thyagaraja. Thomu Narasimha Das, a great scholar, says that he visited Thyagaraja Swami in Madras. Narasimha Das says that he greatly benefited from this meeting. "Kesavananada Sankeerthanavali Vinti, bakthulu shishyulu kalasi koluva kanti, vang maadhuri vaibhavambu kanti, vinaya sathsampanna vivekambu kanti." In simpler words, Narasimha Das says that he saw a man of devotion and discipline, a person of wisdom and intellect and in a nutshell, a divine presence. Narasimha Das concludes his statement with the words, "Ajuniki AntharAni anubhavamunu kanti - premanoka saari pilichithe Ramudu Oyanuchu mArubalkunanta" or when Swami called Lord Sri Rama responds with "Oh!" (Thygaraja, did you call me?). Thomu Narasimha Das says that his meeting with Sri Thyagaraja was an experience that even the creator of the world, Brahma could not have experienced.

You can also read the admiration expressed by a Westerner, Fox Strangaways in the article The Music of Hindostan. Most importantly, let us read what Thyagaraja Swami's own gurun said about him. After hearing Thyagaraja Swami sing to an audience of scholars the kriti "Dorakuna Itu Vanti Seva" (Raga: Bilahari), when translated means, "Can anyone get this kind of blessing, to sing in the august presence of my guru? Even the Devas (the angels) are not so blessed as I (Thyagaraja)." In response, Guru Sonti Venkatramaniah exclaimed, "Doraguna Iduvamdi Sishyudu" (Can anyone be more blessed than I to get a disciple such as Thyagaraja?" This shows the admiration Sonti Venkatramaniah had for his disciple.

These episodes, while illustrating the admiration others had for Saint Ghyagaraja, does not fully answer, "Why all this praise for this one composer?" The simple answer is, Thyagaraja did not merely compose songs; he gave us a philosophy; showed us that through nadhopasana or worship through music, one can achieve everlasting happiness. Above all else, he showed us that temptations can be reduced by living a simple life, rejecting offers of wealth and possession even from Royalty. He is the only composer who taught us that music is "sulabhumuga kadatheranu soochana" (Manasaetulordune - Malayamarudham) or an easy means to salvation. He appealed to scholars and the naive individual alike.

He had something to give to each one of us. Like the great ocean that interest the marine biologist and the marine chemist pursing scholarly scientific investigations or the merchant shipmen who want to navigage the seas, the fisherman looking for fish, or the ordinary individual admiring its depth and beauty and enjoying its breeze, Thyagaraja Swami's songs satisfied the intellectual curiosity of the musicologist; answered the questions of the religious scholar; and pleased the musical novice with melodgy.

The contribution of Thyagaraja is not merely his compositions and the melody that it provided but the values that he preached and also practicsed. He asked us to eschew kaama, krodha, lobha, moha, madha and matsarya and instead, cultivate sama, dama, uparati, titiksha, shraddha and samadhana. Freely translated, it means get rid of desires, lust, selfishness, ego, jealousy, hatred, and fear. instead, cultiave self control, equanimity, tranquility, ability to bear suffering and ability to look away from evil.