Greatness of Thyagaraja

KNOW YOUR THYAGARAJA (Vol-2): SVK; T. R. Publications Pvt. Ltd., PMG Complex, II floor, 57, South Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai- 600017. Rs. 175.

THIS IS a splendid book which has been attractively got up. It is the second time that several articles (in this case 13 of them) contributed by SVK over a period of years and published in TheHindu have been collected and republished in book form.

The author is well-known as a knowledgeable and eminently fair music critic, who served in the editorial ranks of TheHindu and retired after 45 years of service. He is a trained, though not a professional musician. The music and the compositions of the Saint of Thiruvaiyaru have had a special appeal to him. He has drunk deep at the fount of ``Rama katha sudha rasa''. A scholar in Sanskrit, his book contains references to parallels in the Valmiki Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Venkatesa Prapathi and Vedanta Desika's works. He has studied the Kamba Ramayana, and the writings of the Azhwars as well. Fortunately for us, he carries this load of learning lightly, and there is no hint of pedantry in his writing.

The greatness of Thyagaraja is three dimensional. First and foremost, he was a supreme Rama Bhaktha. Secondly he was a great musician. Lastly, he was a beautiful lyricist and a born poet. It is this combination of gifts that places him on a pedestal among the great Vaggeyakaras of Carnatic music.

To ``Know your Thyagaraja'' you must ``Know your Rama''. In the ``Poornachandrika'' kriti beginning with the words ``Telisi Rama chintanato namamu seyave'' Thyagaraja expounds the idea that it is not enough to repeat the name of Rama over and over again. You must do so knowing Rama's ``Nija tattvamu''. Why? Because Rama can mean a beautiful woman, when you should be thinking of Rama as Brahman. ``Aja'' can mean a sheep or Vagisvara. ``Arka'' can mean a poisonous plant or the effulgent sun. That is why in the well-known kriti ``Evarani'', Thyagaraja reveals his explanation for the greatness of the name of Rama. ``Ra'' is the Jeevakshara of ``Om Namo Narayana'', while ``Ma'' is the Jeevakshara of ``Om Namasivaya''.

To savour the full sweetness of Rama's name, you must be full of love for Rama, as Thyagaraja explains in the kriti ``Rama nee yeda'' one of the 45 kritis, translated by SVK, which form part two of the book. As for himself, Thyagaraja declares his love for Rama in the kriti ``Raghuvara'' in Pantuvarali. In the charanam he says ``Manasuna neeke marulu konnanu''.

A constant theme of Thyagaraja is that you may discard ``Nataka, Alankara, Veda, Purana, Yagna, Japa and Tapa''. The way to attain Satpadam is by Thyagaraja vinutuni bhajana. This is the message of the kriti ``Ksheenamai''.

In the Vishnu Sahasranama, to suggest a simple means of reciting the 1000 names of the Lord, Isvara says ``Sri Rama Rameti ...... Sahasranama tat tulyam''. In his kriti ``Intha sowkhyamani'', Thyagaraja says that Sankara knows the sweetness of Vara Rama namamane.

The path of Dhyana or meditation has been recommended by Thyagaraja as a means of attaining oneness with the Lord. Chapter nine of the book is devoted to Dhyana. One may recall again that, in Ksheenamai, Thyagaraja says ``Jagannathudu siramuna, Hridayamuna vahinchi'' (bearing Jagannatha in your head and your heart).

The easiest way of reaching the Lord is by Bhajana. This theme is elaborated in the seventh chapter of the book. Bhajana is surely the easiest way, as well as the sweetest route to oneness with the Supreme Being.

At one time in my life as a District Officer, I was dealing with a riot situation, and in considerable personal danger, I kept on reciting (from the kriti Sitapati), ``Ee mahini bhayam eti kanna mata'' I was thus saved and am alive today to tell the tale!

The book has an excellent foreword, meaningful and terse, by Mr. T. T. Vasu, president of the Music Academy. There is a message by Mr. P. Obul Reddy, who is ever-ready to support all good causes. Our thanks also go to the T.T.D. and to its E.O., the scholar- administrator, Dr. I. V. Subba Rao. TheHindu has continued to publish further articles of ``Know Your Thyagaraja'', and I hope we shall have ``Know Your Thyagaraja'' Volume-3 before long. The book is sponsored by the Obul Reddy Charitable Trust and Sri Tyagaraja Seva Samithi.

C. V. NARASIMHAN

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