Respectfully known as "Sri Tyaga Brahman," Tyagaraja (born Thyagaraja Aradhana) was one of the most important composers in the history of Indian music. Many of his thousands of songs, including "Utsava Sampradaya Keertanas" and "Divya Nama Sankeertanas," continue to be sung in devotional congregations. A prolific composer and poet, he wrote two operas -- Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam and Nowka Charitram. His lengthy composition, "Pancha Ratna Kritis (The Five Gems)," remains a masterpiece of early Indian music. Memory of the day he attained samadhi is celebrated annually by vocalists and musicians who congregate to perform the piece. The son of vocalist and veena player Rama Brahman, Tyagaraja was descended from a family of Smarta Telegu Brahmins who fled from their ancestral home in northern India at the end of the 16th century. He composed his first piece, "Namo Namo Raghavaya," at the age of 13. A devotee of Lord Sri Rama, Tyagaraja was deeply spiritual. He forsook all but bhakti and devotion to God. Each day he recited verses from the epic Valmiki Ramayana and made annual pilgrimages to the sacred places of south India. He was also influenced by the writings of mystic poet Bammera Potana and Narayana Tritha, author of Krishna Leela Tarangini. He was a disciple of vocalist Sonthi Venkataramanayya. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi