compositional styles of sri tyagaraja, sri muttuswamy deekshitar and sri shyamashastri.
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Many vaggeyakaras have composed and sung on Lord Venkateshwara and Goddess Alamelumanga of Tirupathi. Some of them being the alwars of the vaishnavite tradition, Sri Purandhara dasa, Sri Annamacharya, Sri Thyagaraja, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Subbaraya Shastri. The most noted composer who sang on the Lord being Sri Annamacharya, who has contributed the bulk of the compositions on this kshetram.
In this article, the compositions of carnatic trinity on kshetram Tirupathi will be discussed. Of the trinity, only Sri Thyagaraja and Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar seem to have composed on the lord of the seven hills. There is no composition of Sri Shyama Shastri on this kshetram. However, there is one composition venkata shaila vihara in hamir kalyani composed by Sri Subbaraya Shastri, son of Sri Shyama Shastri.
Sri Thyagaraja’s compositions on Tirupathi
Sri Thyagaraja (1767–1847 A.D.) was one of the greatest and prolific vaggeyakaras of carnatic music. He composed thousands of compositions on his Ishta devata Lord Rama. He has composed in both telugu and Sanskrit where the majority being in telugu. His compositions mainly constitute the musical form krithi which is laden with raga bhava and bhakthi. Sri Thyagaraja has composed two compositions on the Lord of Tirupathi. They being:
1. Thera theeyaga radha in ragam gaulipantu
2. Venkatesha ninnu in ragam madhyamavathi
Sri Thyagaraja unlike Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar did not travel much and stayed in Thiruvayyaru, Tanjore mostly. The above two kritis were composed during his pilgrimage to Tirupathi.
Thera theeyaga radha
This composition is set in ragam gaulipantu and in adi talam. In this composition, the saint pleads to the lord to remove his ignorance and to bestow him gnana to follow the right path and to attain salvation ultimately.
It is believed that when Saint Thyagaraja went to Tirumala to have a darshan of Lord Venkateshwara, the sanctum sanctorum was covered with a screen which inspired the composer to sing Thera theeyaga radha. The saint says “ Oh Lord Tirupathi Venkata Ramana ! Can you not lift the veil of jealousy in me ! It is preventing me from attaining right conduct, unblemished wealth, true love for humanity and pure devotion to God which leads to salvation: Dharma Artha, Kama, Moksha. This composition is full of similes which shows the literary prowess of the composer. The composer says “ Like hungry fishes being caught in the net; like holding a curtain preventing light from a lamp; like a fly spoiling the food of one who is just about to eat; like the mind wavering during the contemplation of “Hari”; like animals caught in the net unguardedly; my eyes are being blinded by the veil of jealousy “.
Venkatesha ninnu
This composition is in ragam madhyamavathi set to adi talam. In this composition, the saint uses a lot of sambodhana phrases to address the Lord and implores the Lord to shower his grace on him.
Saint Thyagaraja says “ Oh Lord Venkatesha ! We need a thousand eyes to see your resplendent form. Oh lotus eyed one ! protector of the sages ! You are worshipped as the most supreme of Gods. I have come to you in a state of devotion to attain your grace. I have adopted your name which is like a nectar as a step towards bliss. Oh lord of Lakshmi ! This blessing is a result of the merit I have earned by the fufillment of a vow, you are my sole refuge .One who resides in the hearts of yogis, one who reclines on Adisesha, one who is loved by Bhagavathas, one who has taken abode in Nagachala (Tirumala) in a radiant form.
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The Trinity of Carnatic music, also known as The Three Jewels of Carnatic music, refer to the outstanding trio of composer-musicians of Carnatic music in the 18th century, being Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri. Prolific in composition, the Trinity of Carnatic music are known for creating a new era in the history of Carnatic music by bringing about a noticeable change in what was the existing Carnatic music tradition.