Saint Thyagaraja occupies a respectful place among the great leaders of India’s spiritual heritage. His contribution to Indian spiritual music had left not only the Hindu community but all lovers of music in eternal indebtedness to Him.  “Karnataka music tradition was pioneered by Annamacharya (15^th century), Purandaradasa (16^th century) and Kshetrayya in 17^th Century.  Badrachala Ramadasa, the Advaitic Sanyasi Siva Narayananda Thirtha and Margadarshi Sesha Iyengar were the augmenting influences.  The seminal pattern of Kriti or Kirtana having been evolved already, it was for Tyagaraja to handle it with uncanny excellence and become the ‘foremost composer of Karnataka music. ---- A Kriti is always sung only to the Prince of Ayodhya who was the incarnate Lord, the complete Avatar, the Supreme Being.  Ganga at Haridwar or Kashi is quintessential Ganga.  Thyagaraja is the sheer Kasi of the Karnatic music tradition”, says learned Sri K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar in his foreword to Sri Tyagaraja a treatise by Dr. V. Raghavan, published by the Sahitya Akademi under the Makers of Indian Literature series.

There are two performance stages outside the temple.  Devotees sit on these stages and offer their prayers to Saint Thyagaraja singing his compositions.   There is a statue of Smt. Nagarathinammal who founded the Thyagaraja worship tradition.  There is the Bodhi tree under which the saint did his singing penance.  Lord Vinayaka and Sri Anjaneya performing penance have their due places in the prakara.

Mahabisheka is performed on the Chithirai (April-May) Poosam day, the birth star of the Saint.  Since the day prior to Shivrathri, the temple is wide open to the devotees till the next day of Shivrathri.  The Aganda Gana performance – without any interval or breaks – goes throughout the day.

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.

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.