165th Thyagaraja aradhana commences

Saint composer Sri Thyagaraja considered Tiruvaiyaru as a ‘punya bhoomi' (holy place) and hence he lived at this place and sang ‘kritis' in glory of Lord Rama, said Kanumuri Bapi Raju MP and chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board at Tiruvaiyaru near here on Monday. Inaugurating the 165th annual aradhana of Sri Thyagaraja at the saint's samadhi on the banks of the Cauvery at Tiruvaiyaru, Mr. Bapi Raju said Tiruvaiyaru is not only a punya bhoomi for Thyagaraja but also for all musicians, as the saint had lived here. Thyagaraja's kritis brought solace and succour to people. Stating that there was a link between Tiruvaiyaru and Tirupathi and his kritis are being sung in Tirumala Tirupati temple, Mr. Raju said that ‘Endharo mahanubavulu' is a very popular kriti which is sung at Tirumala. Sri Thyagaraja himself travelled to Tirupati and sang some kritis in praise of Lord Venkateswara. He said that the TTD will provide all facilities to Tamil people who come in large number to Tirupathi. K. Baskaran, Thanjavur District Collector, said that Sri Thyagaraja's music transcended the barriers of colour, caste, creed and national boundaries. Sri Thyagaraja, one among the Music Trinity, has made Carnatic music popular. G.K. Vasan, Union Minister for Shipping; G. Rangasamy Moopanar, president of the Sri Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha; Haridwaramangalam A. K. Palanivel; and Srimushnam V. Raja Rao, both secretaries of the sabha and Sinthamohan, MP, Tirupati spoke. The aradhana will go on till January 13 when musicians will sing ‘pancharatna krithis' in chorus