Sadguru Tyagaraja Swami

Sadguru Tyagaraja Swami (Telugu : సద్గురు త్యాగరాజ స్వామి), as he is referred by musicians and music lovers was born Kakarla Tyagabrahmam (Telugu : కాకర్ల త్యాగబ్రహ్మం) on 4th of May, 1767 and according to the Telegu calendar, Sarvajita Nama Samvatsaram Chaitra Masam, Sukla paksham, Saptami, Kataka lagnam, Pushyami nakshatram, at Tiruvarur and on 6th of January, 1847 at 79 years, and according to the Telugu calendar, Pushya Bahula Panchami in Prabhava Nama Samvatsaram, seated on the banks of Cauvery at Tiruvaiyaru, he reached Brahmi-bhava and attained Samadhi, merging with Para-Brahman.

Early Life
Kakarla Tyagabrahmam was born in 1767 to a telugu Vaidiki Mulakanadu Brahmin Family in Tiruvarur to Ramabrahmam and Sitamma. The name Kakarla indicates that they were of Kakarla, a small hamlet in Cumbum Taluka of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. His family belonged to the smarta tradition and bharadwaja gotram. Tyagaraja Swami was the third son of his parents, and Panchanada Brahmam and Panchapakesha Brahmam were his elder brothers. He was named Tyagabrahmam after the presiding deity of Tiruvarur, Tyagaraja. Tyagaraja Swami's paternal grandfather was Giriraja Kavi and his maternal grandfather was Veena Kalahastayya from whom he learnt to play the veena in his childhood.

Musical Career
Tyagaraja Swami Learnt under Sonti Venkataramanayya beginning at an early age.