Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, colloquially known as TyÃÂgarÃÂja and Tyagayya, was a prolific composer of Carnatic music or Indian classical music. He was highly influential in the development of the South Indian classical music tradition. Tyagaraja is said to have composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama. TyagarajaâÂÂs compositions continue to hold a prominent place in the Carnatic music tradition, especially the Pancharatna Kriti (English: 'five gems'), a set of five pieces which are often featured in concerts dedicated to his legacy.
These kritis are composed on the Goddess Tripurasundari of the Thyagaraja Temple at Thiruvottriyur. It is said that Thyagaraja composed these at the request of his disciple Veena Kuppayyar.
The following kritis are composed on the presiding deity of the Sundareswarar Temple at Kovur.
Thyagaraja composed the following krithis on the deities Saptarishishwarar and his consort Pravrddha Shrimati at their temple in Lalgudi (previously known as Thiruthavathurai).
The following kritis are addressed to Goddess Neelayatakshi of Kayarohanaswami Temple at Nagapattinam.