Tyaagaraja - Lost and Found feeling :)

One the most fascinating aspects of Chennai is its vibrant classical music season or maarghazi utsavam. There was an interesting joke of Facebook sometime back. Musicians sing "Entha ROW mahaanubhavalu", as if to they were asking, which ROW were the rich and famous rasikas sitting :) Quite a take on the pompous displays in the kutcheris these days :)

That apart, listening to this wonderful composition during Tyagaraja aaradhanai in tiruvaiyaru is quite a moving experience. So, it seems the saint sang this song when he was invited to sing in the house of his Guru, Sonti Venkataramanayya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyagaraja). What an experience it would have been to have heard this composition from the master himself !

One of the highlights of my visit to Tiruvaiyaru, was the darshan of the wonderful idol of Lord Rama in the temple. Its a small idol with Lord Rama, Lakshamana and maa sita in standing position. I distinctly remember that maa Sita was on the left of the Lord and that I thought was not quite usual. I did not dig further. The sight of the Lord Rama was quite moving. It was quite an emotional experience to see that wonderful idol of Rama that was the source of life long inspiration for the Saint. Well, it seems that the idol there is only one of the many idols that the Lord that Saint Tyagaraaja had. Now, as I travel back in time, my curiosity increases to know where the idol, that the Saint felt so emotionally attached (that his brother had to throw it into the river) was? So, it turns out that the shining idol that Lord Rama blessed Tyaagaraja is in simple home in Varagappaiyer Street, Thanjavur. The group of idols has Rama and Sita in a seated pose with Bharata holding the umbrella, Shatrughna the ‘chamaram' and Lakshmana standing on the right side of Rama. All musicians come to this place during the Tyaaraja aaradhanai to get blessings. Now, that goes right up there in places to visit :) (http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article1271764.ece).

While on that topic, there is a small story on why Lord Rama played this "leela" and forced Jalpeshan to throw the idols into the river. As Embar VijayaRaghavachar puts it, Lord Rama wanted to find out, that if Saint Tyagaraaja sangs such beautiful songs in his (Lord Rama's) presence, how much more sweeter and intense would be the songs if he separated himself from devotee. So, the Lord plants this idea in the mind of Jalpeshan. Saint Tyaaraja melts unable to bear the separation from his beloved Lord Rama and sang "Endu daagi naado" , where has he gone? How much pain would he have endured for the 3 months when he was separated from the Lord, almost like a mother cow separated from its, unable to express the pain. And who can even imagine the joy of the Saint, when re-united with his beloved Lord Rama.

Another great aspect of the Saint Tyaaraja as I see it, he had great affection of Lord Shiva as well. Just like Ramakrishna paramahamsa, his love for Lord Rama also inspired him to look at this same aspects in Lord Shiva (http://www.shaivam.org/ste_tyagaraja.htm#shiva_shiva). Great saints are beyond Nama, roopa bheda. It give me a high when I think that we tread the same earth as this wonderful saint. What else can I say..... " Endaro Mahaanubhavulu" ...