Renovated house of saint composer Sri Thyagaraja on Thirumanjana Veedhi at Thiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur will be declared open on June 21 according to G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president of Sri Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha.
The Sabha has taken up the renovation of the house at a cost of nearly Rs. 22 lakh. Born in Tiruvarur, on May 4,1767, saint composer Thyagaraja moved to Thiruvaiyaru and stayed in the house till he attained samadhi on a Pushya Bagula Panchami day on January 4,1847. He rendered hundreds of kritis in praise of Lord Rama in Telugu and the house used to be his temple for Lord Rama.
Devotees of Thyagaraja and musicians, music lovers who visit Thiruvaiyaru for the annual aradhana of saint composer Sri Thyagaraja make it a point to visit the house. One among the music trinity, the other two being Shyama Sastri and Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Thyagaraja enriched Carnatic music with his soul-stirring kritis.
As the house became dilapidated and very old, the Sabha took up the renovation, works for which have now been completed. The renovated house has an arch - embedded with a statue of Thyagaraja - at the entrance. Two pillars and a yazhi decorate the entrance. Some of the features inside are a dhyana mandapam , a room for the saint's memorabilia, a kitchen and so forth.
"Ganapathy Homam will be performed on June 21 and the house declared open for public visit," said Rangaswamy Moolpanar. The sabha has taken up construction of an auditorium near the samadhi of the saint on the banks of the Cauvery. It has also been completed and declared open on June 21. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 1000 and can be used as a wedding hall also. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs, Mr. Moopanar said.
G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping, will take part in the functions.
Published - May 19, 2010 05:52 pm IST
