Tyagaraja is one of the most popular among the composers of Karnatic music. He was born on 4 May 1767 at Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. Tyagaraja was one of those precious gems who gave a new direction to Indian music. He was a profound scholar and poet and also known as 'Sangeet-Guru'. The music compositions, 'Tyagaraja Gana', 'Valmikiya Kavana' and 'Agumbeya Astamaya' are said to be unique for enrapturing the human heart. Thyagaraja composed devotional verses and set them to music. He popularised music in the form of Kirtans. His immortal 'Pancharatna Kritis' (the five gems) reveal the mastery of his genius. He was of the view that art cannot be weighed in money, nor can it be compensated by it. He composed 700 verses and set them to music in 500 different ragas. He also created two operas: 'Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam' and 'Nauka charitam'. Majority of his songs are in Telugu while a number of them are in Sanskrit. He was a great devotee of Lord Rama. Thyagaraja passed away on 6th January 1847.