Musicians pay homage to saint-composer Thyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru

The annual mass musical rendering of the pancharatna kritis composed by saint-composer Thyagarajar was performed by Carnatic musicians at the Thyagarajaswamy Athishtanam at Thiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur on Wednesday (January 7, 2026).

The customary recitation of the pancharatna kritis formed part of the 179^th Aradhana Celebrations of Sadhguru Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal, organised by Sri Thiyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha, Thiruvaiyaru.

The kritis – ‘Jagadanandakaraka’ (Nata), ‘Dudukugala’ (Gaula), ‘Sadhinchene’ (Arabhi), ‘Kanakanaruchira’ (Varali), and ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu’ (Sri), all in adi thala – were rendered by leading vocalists and supporting artistes on mirthangam, flute, ghatam, ganjira, and other musical instruments. At the same time, a special anointment was performed on the granite and panchaloka idols at the Athishtanam, amidst the recitation of verses from the vedas by vedic pandits. The rendering of the Thyagaraja kritis by nadhaswaram exponents, supported by thavil, preceded and followed the mass rendering of the pancharatna kritis.

Mridangam maestro Umayalpuram Sivaraman, who turned 90, also participated in the Aradhana.

At the conclusion of the performance, a maha arathi was performed at the Athishtanam.

Senior citizens in the audience said they were elated to witness the harikatha and upanyasam events that followed in two half-hour slots immediately after the rendering of the pancharatna kritis. “I used to listen to harikatha and upanyasam on the themes around Thyagabrahmam and his kritis during the festival in the past, where the bhagavathars would quote and recite the saint composer’s verses,” said K. Subramanian of Thanjavur.

The annual Aradhana festival, which commenced on January 3, culminates with the recitation of the pancharatna kritis in the morning and the Aanjaneya Uthsavam on Wednesday night.