Power of गुरु
(From the glorious life of थ्यगाराजा स्वामी )
By Dr. G. R. विजयकुमार
Compositions of Thyagaraja Swami are well known in all families in South India. Blessed with exceptional musical talent, Thyagaraja spurned fame and riches and devoted his life to Lord Ramachandra. His compositions have the capacity to instill devotion, joy and happiness in the hearts of all.
Thyagaraja was born as the third child to Brahmin parents, Rama Brahma and Shanta Devi, in 1767 at Thiruvayaru, near Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu. The parents had prayed in the local Thyagaraja Temple and mother Shanta Devi had a divine darshan with the message: "I am pleased with your seva and bhakti. A great singer and a bhakta of Lord Rama will be born to you."
When the bhakta was born, Rama Brahma named him Thyagaraja, since he was born by the blessings of Thyagaraja. When he was five, his father began to teach him Telugu. Both parents also took him to Thyagaraja Mandir where the boy listened to kirtans. Often he would also join in the singing. The adult singers appreciated his sweet voice and singing style. Noticing his innate musical ability Rama Brahma arranged for him to learn music.
He became Shondi Venkataraman' s pupil. The Guru was a famous teacher at the royal court of Thanjavur. Thyagaraja studied sincerely. By the age of 16, he had mastered many aspects of music. He began to compose and sing kirtans on Lord Rama. Simultaneously, he studied Sanskrit. After obtaining the Guru's blessings, he returned home.
Thyagaraja never envisaged his musical abilities as a source of income. For this reason his elder brothers often quarreled with him. When 18, Thyagaraja married Parvati. Soon Thyagaraja's parents expired. Four years later Parvati too died. This increased Thyagaraja's detachment from the world. But at people's behest he re-married Parvati's sister Kamala. After marriage, Thyagaraja continued his deep devotion, singing Lord Rama's kirtans for hours at a time. This infuriated Jayesh, his eldest brother, who supported the household. Jayesh rebuked Thyagaraja saying that singing kirtans would not bring home food. How long could he support him and his wife?
Thyagaraja relinquished his father's property to him and retired to a hut away from the village. Thyagaraja comforted his wife: "Do not worry. In this isolated retreat, it will be even more joyous to offer devotion. Lord Rama is here to care for us. He may awaken us hungry but he will not lest us sleep so." Kamala had the grace not to demand perishable worldly objects from her husband, who was totally immersed in devotion.
Once, while Thyagaraja was engrossed in singing kirtans, a renunciate named Ramakrishnananda arrived on their doorstep. The couple welcomed him by offering the little fruit they had in store. Pleased by their service, he offered them a boon. Thyagaraja replied: "O Yogiraj! The stalwart renunciates never arrive without a purpose. All I ask is for a Guru - Mantra to cross 'Sansar’”. Ramakrishnananda commanded Thyagaraja: "Recite the Rama mantra ten million times and Lord Rama will redeem you."
Resolutely, Thyagaraja commenced chanting the Rama mantra, 125,000 times every day. When he was 38 years old, he completed the Rama mantra. By Lord Rama's grace, he attained Vachan Siddhi'. This meant that whatever he spoke would prove true. In addition, even in his sleep, while his lips remained closed, one could hear the incessant chanting of 'Rama, Rama'.
But a constant fear troubled him. By Vachan siddhi' one could not only do good to others, but curse them as well. What could be the outcome, he wondered, if an ugly incident arose and he cursed someone? He quickly held a yagna on completion of his japas. He offered back to Rama the Vachan ‘Siddhi' he had been granted. By renouncing this siddhi, he also remained true to the meaning of his name-Thyagaraj, King of Renunciation.
At that time, he heard a knock at the door. On opening it, he witnessed an unbelievable sight - a teenage form of Lord Rama, accompanied by Lakshman and the Rishi, Viswamitra. Transfixed on seeing his Lord, he forgot to welcome them. Divine rays emanating from Lord Rama entered Thyagaraja's body and soon the divine darshan ended. Only then did Thyagaraja come to his senses and repented for failing to welcome them. Deeply regretting this, the kirtans he composed thereafter, all pined for the Lord. These kirtans and his music spread his fame all over. People regarded him as a saintly personality and began to flock to his hut.
Sage Narada blessed him with a visit and gifted him 'Swavarnava Siddhi'. By this, his knowledge and musical talents improved markedly.
King Sharbhoj invited him to his court. But Thyagaraja refused saying: "Only Lord Rama's name plays on my tongue. Never will it sing praises of a king. The head which has bowed to Lord Rama will not bow to a king. By forsaking Lord Rama's seva, I will not adopt royal service. I only know Lord Rama's palace and if it is my good fortune, there I will go."
On receiving this message, the King did not get angry but, himself decided to visit Thyagaraja. When his elder brother Jayesh heard the news that Thyagaraja had refused to visit the court, he was infuriated, since he craved for the worldly riches which the king would have gifted Thyagaraja. He therefore grabbed Lord Rama's murti and flung it in the nearby river Kaveri. Loving this murti more than his own soul, Thyagaraja plunged into the river. People on the banks watched aghast. Thyagaraja swam to the bottom and somehow located the murti. Onlookers hailed him and scorned Jayesh.
Now old age had set in. He composed hundreds of kirtans dedicated to Lord Rama. His wife Kamala died. This deeply saddened Thyagaraja. Henceforth, his poems reflected this sorrow and lamentations for Kamala. He then renounced to become a sanyasi. Soon in 1847, he passed away and joined Lord Rama in Vaikunth.
Meditate on Om. Know this sacred syllable Om. You will know everything. You will attain the Highest Knowledge.
- स्वामीजी सिवानान्दा
(Source Shri Sai Padananda April 1999)
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