Thyagaraja
visited Kancheepuram at the request of the sage Upanishad Brahmam. One day he
was performing Bhajana at Upanishad Brahmendra Mutt. A Kanjira artiste by name Radhakrishnayya
was sitting there with his Kanjira and enjoying the music. He got tempted to
play on Kanjira, but was hesitating, not to disturb the smooth sail of that
divine Bhajana. Also it so happened that this artiste was not formally introduced
to Thyagaraja prior to beginning of the bhajana. Hence he was hesitating all
the more to play on Kanjira. At one point of time he could not contain his
enthusiasm and started softly playing Kanjira along-side the music that was going
on. Thyagaraja turned around and appreciatively approved of his playing
Kanjira. After bhajana got concluded, Thyagaraja enquired the whereabouts of
Radhakrishnayya and acceded to the request of Radhakrishnayya to join him as a
disciple.Â
Later on Radhakrishnayya was honored as Asthaana Vidwan of Mysore
Maharaja.
