TYAGARAJA

born 1767, Tamilnad, India died 1847 Indian composer renowned in southern India for his Telugu kirtanas (devotional songs) and ragas. These songs were mostly in praise of Rama, who, like Krishna, was believed to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Tyagaraja became a devotee of Vaisnava at an early age and is regarded as an exponent of gana-margai.e., salvation through devotional music.