From Swetharanyam to the world of music

A young boy with aspiration to acheive big in music, started from a remote village Thiruvengadu(Swetharanyam in Sanskrit) in Thanjavur. Innumerable years of dedication, immense love towards music, will to achieve given the circumstances, has what made Shri. Thiruvengadu A Jayaraman (TAJ) one among privileged few to carry forward the great Legacy of Shri. Madurai Mani Iyer.

Picture of Mani Iyer and TAJ(hidden behind mani iyer) during a concert

TAJ was closely associated with Madurai Mani Iyer from 1949 till the demise of the latter in 1968. He learned his music in a Gurukulam style in Mani Iyer's House. He was born in a simple but big Brahmin family. His father Shri. Aghora Sastrigal was a Vedic Scholar. He was the eldest among 5 sisters and 8 brothers. Those days when we did not have the luxury of Buses, TAJ used to walk miles from his village every week to learn music. His mother Mrs. Parvatham Aghoran packed enough food to last couple of days. He would live in his relative's house and do household work at theirs and Mani Iyer's place apart from getting music lessons. Recently... The Hon'ble President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a special ceremony on 26 August 2005, presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) to TAJ in recognition to his contribution to carnatic music.

Getting the award from President of India

Yet another feather in his cap. I always look upon him for inspiration... As he is my Periappa, I feel an extra sense of pride.

Paati Thanks for giving us this great son. Periappa I bow to you in great respect.