THIYAGARAJAR TEMPLE THIRUVAIRU

Main god: Arulmigu Thiyagarajar

Location: 

Sri Thyagaraja Brindavanam, Tiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur district.

Festivals:

Shivrathri in February-March and Pancharatna Keerthana festivals are very devotionally celebrated in the Brindavan.

Workship timing:

The Brindavan is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. continuously.

Temple: 

The temple-Brindavan is situated on the northern bank of Cauvery.  The saint’s idol is installed at a place where He attained Jeeva Samadhi.  The saint looks with Chinmudra and holding the palm leaves containing His songs-Keertanas.  He is wearing a garland of Rudraksha.  In the Peeta behind the Saint is the Spatika Linga worshipped by him.  Maharshi Narada and Thumburu, the deities of Music adore the entrance of the temple.  Sage Valmiki’s idol is respectfully installed with Lava and Kusha (sons of Lord Sri Rama) listening to their Guru.  4 disciples of Sri Tyagaraja are around the Brindavan.

Those learning music perform abishek to the Saint and consume it as Prasad.  Daily abishek is performed with Cauvery water.  Pure rice in the day and milk and fruits are offered as nivedhana.  On the 5^th day of (Panchami) of the new moon fortnight, a procession is followed after special pujas.

The 5 day Pancharatna Keerthana festival, the Aaradhana festival, goes till midnight each day.  The saint visits His house in the morning of Panchami when His Sethulara Kirtan is sung by the devotees.  This is followed by special abishek.  All the musicians sing the Pancharatna Keerthanas together simultaneously.  This is an important event of this festival.  It is said that Lord Sri Rama granted darshan to Saint when He sang these keerthanas.

Sri Moola Rama – who granted darshan to the Saint is in the front Mandap.  Sita-Rama wedding festival is conducted on the Sri Rama Navami day.

Sri Tyagaraja has authored 24 thousand Keerthanas in praise of Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam, Tirukovilur, Tirupati, Tiruchi Lalgudi Sapthapureeswar, Lord Muruga of Swamimalai, Sri Anjaneya.  750 of them only had survived the ravages of time.   All performances begin with a song on Lord Vinayaka and end with a song on Sri Anjaneya.

History: 

Saint Tyagaraja was the third child of Sangeetha Vidwan Rama Brahmmam and Srimathi Shantadevi. The saint showed signs of music expertise even in his infancy. He was initiated to Gayathri Mahamanta by his father at the age of 8. He inherited the Rama idol from his father and worshipped it with Rama Shadachari Mantra. His mother taught him the compositions of Badrachala Ramadasa and Purandaradasa. His devotion to Lord Rama grew when he learnt Ramayana while at college. He chanted 1.25 lakh Ramanama each day, the number touching 96 crore before He was 38. When he completed age 38, he heard somebody knocking at the doors and when he opened, He saw Lord Rama and His beloved brother Sri Lakshmana on their march for Vishamitra Yaga Samrakshana. He taught music to many. The Brindavan is built at the spot where the Saint attained Jeeva Samadhi.