Saint Thyagaraja
NAVYA C
SOCIAL MESSAGE IN
COMPOSITIONS
Saint Thyagaraja is one of the most prolific composers of
Carnatic Music and regarded greatly as the pathbreaking
vaaggeyakaara the world has ever witnessed. His compositions
are impeccable in every respect with an aim of bringing the
beauty of Carnatic Music in heartfelt terms to the listener. In
the month of January every year, Thyagaraja Aaradhana is
celebrated worldwide as the auspicious day Chaitra Bahula
Panchami is commemorated for the legendary composer.
Carnatic Music students all over the world along with their
gurus offer the renditions of Pancharatna kritis as a token of
devotion to the composer.
conditions. How wonderfully Saint Thyagaraja spoke about this
fact musically?
One cannot ignore the majestic pancharatna kriti Dudukugala
Nanne Dora in raaga Gowla which can draw parallel to even the
current day retail therapy and consumerism which is confusing
the mankind even more. The very idea of “More is less!” which
was brought
about by the western lifestyles is greatly
mentioned by
Thyagaraja in this kriti.
Carnatic music is essentially a devotional centric genre as per
the general opinions but a composer like Saint Thyagaraja
went the extra mile to even speak about deeper aspects than
devotion- such as spirituality, surrender, vedas and simple
living. Moreover, history says that Saint Thyagaraja has been
an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and most of his compositions
are addressed to the deity. However, it would be interesting to
notice that he has also composed kritis which spoke about the
social conditions of those days in a veiled satirical form as well.
This would actually make us realize that Thyagaraja was well
aware of what is happening in the materialistic world and why
he felt the path of musical surrender is the only way to attain
enlightenment.
In the kriti composed in raaga Suddha Dhanyasi- the composer
says “Entha Nerchina.. Entha Chusina.. Entha Vaaralaina..
Kaantha Daasule” (Meaning: No matter how much you learn,
how much you see, or how much you are, you are eventually a
slave to a damsel!). With a euphemism, Saint Thyagaraja says
about the social conditions of those day when men were after
the vices such as physical desires and no matter how much
they learn or seek, one of eventually a slave to their desires.
Saint Thyagaraja also spoke about the fleeting nature of heart
and how the people get carried away in the autopilot mode in
the kriti Manasa Yetulorthune in raaga Malayamarutham.
He even criticizes the human as a person who is in the lowest
plane of thought when he says “Vinavalera.. Gunaviheena!”
(Meaning: Why don’t you listen, o lame thinking person!).
The very form of addressing a human this way shows Saint
Thyagaraja’s thorough understanding about how humans
limit themselves by surrendering to materialistic desires
and yearnings.
The amazing kriti Gnanamosagaraada in
Purvikalyani raagam also speaks about a request
to the supreme being to give the right knowledge.
Having directionless knowledge is one of the
biggest reasons for people choosing the wrong
path and that actually leads to chaotic social
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