Thiruppugazh Anbargal

Saint Arunagirinadar, who lived in South India about 600 years ago, composed thousands of hymns, popularly known as Thiruppugazh. The hymns are a treasure house of rhythmic intricacies and succinct presentation in the Tamil language and occupy a unique place in the sacred music of Tamil
In the late 1950’s Thiruppugazh started gaining a new mass popularity, when Sri A.S. Raghavan, set the Thiruppug

azh to music in various Raagas and Taalas. He chose the Taala of each song to be consistent with the Chandam or meter of the corresponding verse. Sri Raghavan, who came to be respectfully known as Guruji Raghavan to his disciples, compiled all available Thiruppugazh songs into a Thiruppugazh Madani, and set to tune 503 of these songs in over 100 Ragas. Guruji Raghavan lived in Delhi at that time, but as he started performing in various places and teaching students, his efforts slowly evolved into a popular movement called “Thiruppugazh Anbargal” (Devotees of Thiruppugazh) with the goal of spreading the message of love, brotherhood, self-discipline and unity through music. Thiruppugazh classes sprung up both in cities and rural areas, Guruji Raghavan’s music drew and inspired large numbers of motivated disciples. Guruji Raghavan brought Thiruppugazh to the masses and evolved the tradition of Thiruppugazh Isai Vazhipadu, a form of group worship through the medium of music. He also set to music other religious hymns such as the “Abhirami Anthadi” and “Abhirami Ammai Padhikam”, and created the new tradition of “Valli Kalyanam.” Guruji Raghavan was recognized and decorated with titles such as “Thiruppugazh Gana Ratnam”, “Thiruppugazh Thondar”, and “Bhakta Ratna” by eminent personalities including Sri Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Swamigal of Sringeri, and Swami Chidanandji Maharaj of Sivananda Ashram. Thanks to his devotion and determination, he succeedd in creating the ‘Thiruppugazh movement’ He always stressed the point that a Thiruppugazh bhajan is a collective prayer, where the individual merges with the whole. There is no distinction of any sort and all devotees are one before God. Guruji always emphasises the three qualities the devotees should cultivate: anbu (love) avirodha (free from negativism) and thondu (service). “True devotion would help one to cultivate these values“, he often used to say. Guruji Raghavan and Thiruppugazh are so inalienably linked that it is impossible to think of one without the other.