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Wives: Parvati (First wife. Died, 5 years after marriage), Kamalamba (Second wife); Daughter: Sitalakshmi

Kakarla Thyagabrahmam (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847) was born in Thiruvaiyaaru, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu to Kakarla Ramabrahma and Sitamma in a Telugu Brahmin family. His family belonged to the smarta tradition and Bhardvaja gotra. 

Thyagaraja began His musical training under Sonti Venkata Ramanayya, a music scholar, at an early age. He regarded music as a way to experience God's love. 

His objective while practicing music was purely devotional, as opposed to focusing on the technicalities of classical music. 

He also showed a flair for composing music and, in His teens, composed His first song, "Namo Namo Raghavayya", in the Desika Todi ragam and inscribed it on the walls of the house.

Thyagaraja, who was totally immersed in His devotion to Rama and led the most spartan way of life without bothering in the least for the comforts of the world, did not take any steps to systematically codify His vast musical output.

Out of 24,000 songs said to have been composed by Him, about 730 songs remain now but scholars are skeptical about numbers like 24,000 since there is no biographical evidence to support such claims.

The saint showed signs of music expertise even in His infancy.  He was initiated to Gayathri Mahamanta by His father at the age of 8.  He inherited the Rama idol from His father and worshipped it with Rama Shadachari Mantra. 

His mother taught Him the compositions of Badrachala Ramadasa and Purandaradasa.  His devotion to Lord Rama grew when He learnt Ramayana while at college.   He chanted 1.25 lakh Ramanama each day, the number touching 96 crore before He was 38.

When He completed age 38, He heard somebody knocking at the doors and when He opened, He saw Lord Rama and His beloved brother Sri Lakshmana.

 He taught music to many.  A temple - Brindavan is built at the spot where the Saint attained Jeeva Samadhi.

The temple-Brindavan is situated on the northern bank of river Cauvery.  The saint’s idol is installed at a place where He attained Jeeva Samadhi.  The saint looks with Chinmudra and holding the palm leaves containing His songs-Keertanas. 

He is wearing a garland of Rudraksha.  In the Peeta behind the Saint is the Spatika Linga worshipped by Him.  Maharshi Narada and Thumburu, the deities of Music adore the entrance of the temple.  

Sage Valmiki’s idol is respectfully installed with Lava and Kusha (sons of Lord Sri Rama) listening to their Guru.  

The 5-day Pancharatna Keerthana festival, the Aaradhana festival, goes till midnight each day.  The saint visits His house in the morning of Panchami when His Sethulara Kirtan is sung by the devotees.  This is followed by special abishek.

 All the musicians sing the Pancharatna Keerthanas together simultaneously.  This is an important event of this festival.  It is said that Lord Sri Rama granted darshan to the Saint when He sang these keerthanas.

There are two performance stages outside the temple.  Devotees sit on these stages and offer their prayers to Saint Thyagaraja singing His compositions.   There is a statue of Smt. Nagarathinammal who founded the Thyagaraja worship tradition. 

There is the Bodhi tree under which the saint did His singing penance.  Lord Vinayaka and Sri Anjaneya performing penance have their due places in the prakara.