Background
Tyagaraja was born in 1767 in Tiruvarur, Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, to Kakarla Ramabrahma and Sitamma in a Telugu Brahmin family. He was named Tyagaraja after Lord Thyagaraja, the presiding deity of the temple at Tiruvarur. Tyagaraja was born at his maternal grandfather Giriraja Kavi's house. Giriraja Kavi was a poet-composer in the court of the king of Thanjavur. Giriraja was born in Kakarla village, Kambham taluk in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. He is believed to belong to Velanadu Telugu sect with devarathasya gothra.