Tyagaraja (1767-1847) is undoubtedly South India's most celebrated musician-saint. His songs, remarkable for their beauty as well as for their sheer volume, have been a source of inspiration to countless generations of Hindus. This study attempts to deepen our understanding of Tyagaraja's lifeand lyrics by providing fresh insights into the meaning this saint holds for South Indians.For the first time in Tyagaraja scholarship, the saint's life and works have been contextualized within a historical, social and cultural framework. William Jackson reconstructs the Maratha reign in the Kaveri delta in a comprehensive manner, and tries to establish links between Tyagaraja's worksand the troubled history of this region. He also explores Tyagaraja's mystical philosophy of music and his unique accomplishments as a composer, and contains faithful and lively translations in English of a hundred and sixty of Tyagaraja's greatest lyrics.