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Shri.Thiagaraja
is not a composer
in the usual sense
of the term. He
stands as a very
staunch Rama Bhaktha,
besides being
a philosopher,
social reformer,
prolific composer,
prophet, musicologist,
Nadopasaka - all
molded into one.
He enjoyed his
"ishta devata"
in all the different
attitudes of Navavidha
Bhakthi prescribed
in the "Bhakthi
Sutras" of Sage
Narada and other
devotional literature.
Curiously, the
great Saint develops
his sense of Bhakthi
to such an extent
as virtually to
compete with Sita
herself, in his
love absolute
to His Lord. In
his Varali kriti,
'marakata mani
varna', towards
the close of the
charana, Shri.
Tyagaraja prays,
nay entreats,
to Shri.Rama to
bless him with
the 'Prema Rasa'
that is usually
and unconditionally
given to Sita.
In the todi kriti,
'aarakimbave'
in the anu pallavi,
the great saint
indirectly implies
the erotic love
of a beloved couple,
when he offers
milk as Nivedana
to his ishta devata,
Shri.Rama. In
another popular
kriti, 'Raguvara
Nannu', in Kamavardhini,
he questions Rama
about his propriety
by neglecting
him, who practically
accepted Rama
as the legal husband,
'pathi', like
a pativruta, as
seen in the charana,
"talli tandrulana
tammulu …".
It must be, however,
borne in mind
that the great
saint developed
emotional facet
not to the detriment
of other aspects
of human evolution.
In fact, his personality
is one of perfect
balance, maintained
between intellect
and emotion, along
with a shrewd
sense of discrimination
and close observation
of things around
him. It might
be that the composer
practically immersed
himself in 'Rama
Bhakthi' with
the full compliments
of Swara Raga
and Laya. It might
be that the meditative
and imaginative
Tyagaraja did
not care much
to the reaction
of his surroundings
and whenever disturbed,
approached his
'Ishtam' in a
fitting mood and
mould of mind
that has blessed
us with a multitude
of his kritis.
Yet the compassionate
inner soul has
attempted in its
own way to elevate
the humanity at
large. To this
unquestionable
fact, his 'O!
Manasa' kritis
bear ample testimony.
These kritis are
really addressed
to man as a whole,
who is nothing
but for his mind.
Needless to say
that the method
of social reformation
and transformation
attempted by the
great composer
is direct and
effective, though
suggestive and
spontaneous, almost
applicable to
one and all without
the distinction
of caste, creed
or color and for
all times to come.
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