Power of Guru

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Once, while Thyagaraja

was engrossed in singing kirtans, a renunciate named Ramakrishnananda

arrived on their doorstep. The couple welcomed him by offering the little fruit

they had in store. Pleased by their service, he offered them a boon. Thyagaraja replied: " O Yogiraj!

The stalwart renunciates never arrive without a

purpose. All I ask is for a Guru - Mantra to cross 'Sansar’”.

Ramakrishnananda commanded Thyagaraja:

" Recite the Rama mantra ten million times and Lord Rama will redeem

you. "

 

Resolutely, Thyagaraja

commenced chanting the Rama mantra, 125,000 times every day. When he was 38

years old, he completed the Rama mantra. By Lord Rama's

grace, he attained Vachan Siddhi'.

This meant that whatever he spoke would prove true. In addition, even in his

sleep, while his lips remained closed, one could hear the incessant chanting of

'Rama, Rama'.

 

But a constant fear troubled him. By Vachan siddhi' one could not only

do good to others, but curse them as well. What could

be the outcome, he wondered, if an ugly incident arose and he cursed someone?

He quickly held a yagna on completion of his japas. He offered back to Rama the Vachan

‘Siddhi' he had been granted. By renouncing

this siddhi, he also remained true to the meaning of

his name-Thyagaraj, King of Renunciation.

 

At that time, he heard a knock at the door.

On opening it, he witnessed an unbelievable sight - a teenage form of Lord

Rama, accompanied by Lakshman and the Rishi, Viswamitra. Transfixed on seeing his Lord, he forgot to

welcome them. Divine rays emanating from Lord Rama entered Thyagaraja's

body and soon the divine darshan ended. Only then did

Thyagaraja come to his senses and repented for

failing to welcome them. Deeply regretting this, the kirtans

he composed thereafter, all pined for the Lord. These kirtans

and his music spread his fame all over. People regarded him as a saintly

personality and began to flock to his hut.

 

Sage Narada

blessed him with a visit and gifted him 'Swavarnava Siddhi'. By this, his knowledge and musical talents

improved markedly.

 

King Sharbhoj

invited him to his court. But Thyagaraja refused

saying: " Only Lord Rama's name plays on my

tongue. Never will it sing praises of a king. The head which has bowed to Lord

Rama will not bow to a king. By forsaking Lord Rama's

seva, I will not adopt royal service. I only know

Lord Rama's palace and if it is my good fortune,

there I will go. "

 

On receiving this message, the King did not

get angry but, himself decided to visit Thyagaraja.

When his elder brother Jayesh heard the news that Thyagaraja had refused to visit the court, he was

infuriated, since he craved for the worldly riches which the king would have

gifted Thyagaraja. He therefore grabbed Lord Rama's murti and flung it in the

nearby river Kaveri. Loving this murti

more than his own soul, Thyagaraja plunged into the

river. People on the banks watched aghast. Thyagaraja

swam to the bottom and somehow located the murti.

Onlookers hailed him and scorned Jayesh.

 

Now old age had set in. He composed

hundreds of kirtans dedicated to Lord Rama. His wife

Kamala died. This deeply saddened Thyagaraja.

Henceforth, his poems reflected this sorrow and lamentations for Kamala. He

then renounced to become a sanyasi. Soon in 1847, he

passed away and joined Lord Rama in Vaikunth.

 

Meditate on Om. Know this sacred syllable Om. You will know everything. You will attain the

Highest Knowledge.

- Swamiji Sivananda