#05 (Thyagaraja) The Saint's Parents

His father had three sons. Jalpesan was the eldest one. The second remained unknown. Thyagaraja was the last one. In pursuit of a religious order, Jalpesan wasn’t like his father. He was dull, short tempered, Jealous and money minded. So, his father considered it The Saint was God’s gift. In the father’s daily routine He helped as a dutiful son. He joined his father daily In every chorus party That went round the streets Singing Rama Bhajan songs. Devotees around offered For their daily food Handful of raw grains To win their grace. Thus went their happy days In pursuit of divine ways Much to their satisfaction In their holy profession. It was no wonder, therefore, He learnt from his father All the arts and culture Perfectly well, sooner or later. He sang with his father All the songs of Jayadevar, Purandaradas, Ramadas, And those of Tulsidas. His mother daily taught And from her he had learnt Purandaradas’s songs, every bit, That she knew well by heart.