Thyagaraja Aradhana 2025
Radha Krishna Temple of Bay Area Presents
THYAGARAJA ARADHANA 2025
Honoring the Devotional Legacy of Saint Thyagaraja
Jan 18, 2025, 10 AM-3 PM
Who is Saint Thyagaraja?
Saint Thyagaraja, an illustrious Bhakti Saint from Southern India, born on May 4th, 1767, was a glorious devotee of Lord Ram and a maestro of Carnatic classical music. His musical legacy and kirtan compositions inspire several generations of Carnatic musicians today. His musical journey began under the tutelage of Sonti Venkataramanayya. However, Thyagaraja also considered the great Saint Purandara Dasa, who composed over 450000 bhajans, his manasic (mental) guru. While Saint Purandara Dasa remains the father of Carnatic Music, Thyagaraja, Shyama Shastri, and Muthuswamy Dikshithar form the famed trinity of Carnatic music who revolutionized the devotional art form with their academic mastery and innovative compositions.
Thyagaraja - The Selfless Devotee
Notably, the genius Saint Thyagaraja considered music a form of loving worship—Nadopasana—for his beloved Shree Sita Rama and shunned singing for name and fame despite his life's hardships. Ever surrendered to Lord Rama, his kirtans reflect soul-touching divine sentiments in various moods along his spiritual journey towards attaining the Supreme Goal of human life—selfless love or Bhakti for the Lord. Read more about Saint Thyagaraja’s devotional journey and spirit of total renunciation from Swami Mukundananda’s latest book - Nourish Your Soul - Inspiration from and Lives of Great Saints
Watch this video by Swami Mukundananda in which he narrates two endearing episodes from Saint Thyagaraja’s life:
Thyagaraja Aradhana History
Saint Thyagaraja’s inestimable contributions are honored annually on the day of his Samadhi—Pushya Bahula Panchami—in Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, his home state. This day is commemorated as Thyagaraja Aradhana worldwide, with the key highlight being a community rendition of Thyagaraja’s five masterpieces - the Pancharatna Kritis.
Join us in honoring this great saint who demonstrates that even our talents are gifts from God that can be used to glorify Him and purify our hearts. Offer your talents for a good cause to support the temple community to preserve and propagate Indian spirituality, community, culture, and Vedic values.
Thyagaraja Aradhana Highlights
- Ganesh Pooja
- Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
- Pancharatna Kritis joint rendition - relish timeless masterpieces of Tyagaraja
- Solo and group performances - Offer your talents (only Tyagaraja Kritis)
- Temple Aarti and Prasad
Thyagaraja Aradhana - Participation details
- Participate in a mesmerizing group rendition of the Pancharatna Kritis ($15 per participant)
- Sing or play your favorite non-Pancharatna Thyagaraja Kritis in a solo performance (instrumental/vocal) - ($15 per participant, no accompanists) - Time Limit 4 min
- Perform any non-Pancharatna Kriti as a group ($25 per group, minimum 3 participants) - Time Limit 4 min
HURRY! Spots are available on a first-come, first-served bas
Chief Guests
Padma Mohan and Mohan Vaidyanathan (Co Founders: Carnatic Chamber Concerts)
Padma Mohan, an IT professional-turned-art promoter, has been fostering Carnatic music in the bay area since 2005. She has served on many cultural committees in various temples and founded Carnatic Chamber Concerts (CCC) in January 2009 which has become the pioneer platform for budding artists in the bay area with 450+ music learning students. Padma is also the adviser/mentor for the youth group called Youth Services Through Cultural Arts (YSTCA) which has held several fundraisers from 2012 till date raising over $196,000 for various local non profit organizations in the bay area. Padma was awarded the prestigious "Kala Seva Mani" by the Cleveland Aradhana in 2024 for her sustained efforts promoting Carnatic music.
Guest of Honor
Smt. Sandhya Srinath (Violin)
Sandhya is an innately talented artist who showcases her true talent in every bow! A gold medalist in her masters program in music and an early A-grade awardee for the All India Radio, Sandhya has firmly established the school of Late Shri V. Janakiraman of AIR, Delhi. She learnt, and skillfully absorbed the styles of maestros, late Shri. Lalgudi G Jayaraman and Prof. T.N. Krishnan within her. Along with top solo performances worldwide, she has also accompanied many senior musicians and dancers. Some of her coveted awards include the Best Young Violinist, Music Academy, Chennai, India; Individual Artist Award from both PG Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council. Sandhya has also received titles such as Naada Brahma Kala Bhooshanam, Naada Brahma Kalai Mani, Vaadhya Kala Bhaarathi, Kala Shreshtha and Paramparaa Rakshak. She has numerous recordings to her credit and her versatility has led her to take on instrumental ensembles, jugalbandis with Hindustani artists, and fusion concerts with western musicians. Known for her sensitive renditions and scintillating artistry, she is a very highly sought after artist. She also actively teaches Violin to students all over the US.
Visit http://sandhyastrings.com/ for further information and clips.
Guest of Honor
Smt.Savita Rao
Smt.Savita Rao had her initial music training from her mother Smt. Kannamma Kothandaraman and later learnt from the well-known Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi exponent Sangita Kala Acharya Shri T.R.Subramaniam and his disciple Dr.Radha Venkatachalam.
She has earned a Masters in Carnatic Music and has won several awards such as the “Best Vocalist” from the Madras Music Academy and the “All India Radio Award”, to name a few. She has also been a graded All India Radio artist.
She has been giving Carnatic music concerts as well as singing for Bharatanatyam recitals in India and the US over the last 25 years. She has been teaching in Boston and the Bay Area for over 20 years.
She founded Anuswara School of Music in 2011 and through it she has been training her students to develop a deep and abiding interest in the great art form of Carnatic music.
Guest of Honor
Sri. Srinath Bala (Mridangam)
He is a versatile percussionist with varied styles blended rhythmically into one! Having been initiated by Late Sri. Krishnan (Palghat Sri Mani Iyer style), he received intensive guidance under Sri. R. Ramesh (Karaikudi Mani Style) in Chennai, and later, under Maestro Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.
To his credit, he has uniquely combined the kannakku and naadam aspects from various gurus. He has accompanied the topmost senior artists performing in India, Canada, Zambia, Singapore and the US, and also played in Jugalbandis and TalaVadya Concerts to showcase the solo percussion aspects. He has various recordings and has given lecture- demonstrations on 'LAYAM'. In 2006, he presented a TalaVadya concert titled “Music Through Membranes”. Being a recipient of the PG Arts award, MSAC Artist Awards, and titles ‘Kala Shreshtha’ and ‘Paramparaa Rakshak’, he has over 30 years of concert experiences and is an extremely well sought after artist for Music and Dance Concerts. He has been teaching students for many years and successfully trained many students, who currently play Mridangam, Ghatam, and Kanjira actively in various music circles.
Visit http://srinathlayam.com/ for more information and clips.
Cyndhavi Narayanan: Pancharatna Lead Vocalist
Cyndhavi Narayanan has studied Carnatic music under the tutelage of Shri K.R.Kedaranathan and Smt. Meera Kedaranathan.
She teaches Carnatic music at Aarabhi Carnatic music school in Saratoga to students of all levels.
Highlights
Ganesh Pooja
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Pancharatna Kritis
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
Solo and Group Performances -Tyagaraja Kritis
Solo and Group Performances -Tyagaraja Kritis
Solo and Group Performances -Tyagaraja Kritis
Solo and Group Performances -Tyagaraja Kritis
Temple Aarti and Preeti Bhoj
Solo and Group Performances -Tyagaraja Kritis
Temple Aarti and Preeti Bhoj
Schedule - 10 AM - 3 PM
Ganesh Pooja
10 AM
Blissful Play - Life of Saint Tyagaraja
10:20 AM
Pancharatna Kritis Joint Rendition
10:45 AM
Temple Aarti BHog
12:30 PM
Preeti bhoj
12:30 PM
Solo and Group Performances - Tyagaraja kritis
12:30 PM
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