Thyagaraja's Rama Bhakthi
Why words fail every time I listen to Thyagaraja ? Why do I forget myself and the world around me when I play his krithis ? Sri Thyagaraja and his Bhakti are like flesh and nail; flower and fragrance; child and mother’s affection. Sri Thyagaraja's pieces which reflect different kinds of "rasa" are matchless for their excellence and richness of imagination, and they depict his deep sense of observation. His sweet songs are to say about the saddest thought and a melancholy note may pass on a sweet memory. As color can have different shades, the emotions he could portray are in a variety of shades. I love the way he depicts different kinds of Rama in his different Kritis. I wonder how he always dwelt in the immediate presence of Rama in his thoughts holding dialogues with Rama, getting angry with Him and pleading with Him to give him salvation. How is it humanly possible to think about just one thing throughout one’s life? I am not even able to think of a single thing...