The circumstances that led to the discipleship of Venkataramana Bhagavatar under Thyagaraja were interesting. Venkataramana Bhagavatar originally lived in Ayyampet village of Tanjavoor district. When young he used to go to Thiruvaiyar everyday to attend the bhajanas of Thyagaraja. A desire arose within him that he must do some kind of service to the Great Composer. Every morning he brought plenty of tulasi leaves and kept the same on the pial of the house of the Thyagaraja for use in his pooja. The used to take the same to the pooja room. One day, Venkataramana fell ill and there was no tulasi  for pooja of the day. Thyagaraja enquired and the  disciples narrated that one young man from Ayyampet who used to bring the leaves could not come on that day.  Thyagaraja was all along under impression that his disciples only brought tulasi every day. He expressed a strong desire to meet that boy when he comes next. Thus Venkatarama Bhagavathar came under the umbrella of discipleship. He continued the service to bringing tulasi, however. Later his son also continued this activity of bringing tulasi. Thyagaraja wrote: palumaaru chirakaalamu paramatmuni paadamulanu tulasee dalamulache poojintu.. in Mayamalava gaula ragam. Later Venkataramana became a great bhagavthar and was known to be an important source the posterity for hundreds of compositions made by Thyagaraja.