About

Thiruppugazh Anbargal is a group dedicated to the propagation of Thiruppugazh of Saint Arunagirithanathr composed by Guruji Sri A.S. Raghavan. Saint Arunagirinadar, who lived in South India about 600 years ago, composed thousands of hymns, popularly known as Thiruppugazh.

Sri A.S. Raghavan compiled all available Thiruppugazh songs into a Thiruppugazh Madani, and set to tune 503 of these songs in over 100 Ragas. As he started performing in various places and teaching students, his efforts slowly evolved into a popular movement called “Thiruppugazh Anbargal” (Devotees of Thiruppugazh), devoted to 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.

Guruji 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. He laid emphasis on 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.