SADGURU SRI THIAGARAJA SWAMIGAL is the main Deity of the Samajam. Three different activities are conducted every year in his name, namely 10 Days Thiagaraja Aaradhana Programmes, 5 Days Thiagaraja Jayanthi Programmes and Akanda Gaanam – 24 hours Non-Stop recital of Sadguru Sri Thiagaraja’s Kirthis. Apart from this, the Samajam conducts 4 regular Monthly concerts including Panchami Programme. In addition to this programmes are conducted in commemoration of the Jayanthi Days of great composers - Sri Purandaradasar, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Shyama Sasthrigal, Sri Badrachala Ramadasar, Sri Talapaka Annamacharya and Sri Swathi Thirunaal Maharaja.
Monthly concerts are conducted on Panchami Day and various sponsored programmes of other music composers of yesteryears are also conducted. In the course of its path to what it stands now, it has included in its fold many activities and music programmes which are conducted all through the year.
The Samajam has instituted two awards namely SANGEETHA SEVA NIRATA & KALA SEVA NIRATA and the same is conferred to Senior Vidwans and Persons who have done yeomen service over the years to the Samajam.
The Year 1997 - 150th year of Aradhana festival witnessed 150 Concerts concluding with Grand Vocal concert by Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer accompanied by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna on viola and Dr. TK.Murthy on Mrudhangam and Sri G.Harishankar on Kanjira.
The Platinum Jubilee Year 2004 honoured 75 Senior Vidhwans and also Special felicitation was done to BrahmaSri Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar in recognition for his selfless service to the Samajam for over Six decades.
The history of the Samajam dates back to the year 1929, when musicians and music lovers of Madras (now Chennai) city felt a strong need to conduct Sri Thiagaraja Swamigal Aradhana Festival in their own place to felicitate those who could not go over to Thiruvaiyaru Sequel. With that desire in mind Sri Thiagaraja Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam was formed in 1929 and was registered in 1930-1931.
The founders include Senior Musicians like Tiger Varadhachariar, Harikesanallur Muthaiah Bagavathar, T. L. Venkatarama Iyer and Parur A. Sudaram Iyer, S. RajaGopala Iyer, P. Ramachandra Iyer, and S. Venkatrama Iyer. Members include musicians, well-wishers, and sponsors of the art of Music. In addition to admitting Sangeetha Vidhwans as members of the Samajam.
During 1929 to 1946, only Thiagaraja and Muthuswami Deekshithar days were conducted, at different places in Mylapore. It was in 1946, that Sri Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar with the guidance of Parur A.Sudaram Iyer, Founder Secretary of the Samajam, for the first time started monthly music concerts on Panchami Days and Saturdays.
In the first annual General Body Meeting (AGM) held on 5th May 1946 at P.S. High School premises, a formal set of office bearers were selected with
The Office of the Samajam functioned at Edward Elliots Road, Mylapore, at the residence of Vinjamuri Varadharaja Iyengar. They felt the need for the own premises for the Samajam. A new layout which houses the present premises was formed in the name of Thiagarajapuram mainly for accommodating musicians.
Special mention to the initiative taken by Sarvasri. T. L. Venkatarama Iyer and Parur A.Sudaram Iyer for making the dream come true. The cost of the land was met by contributions from the residents of Thiagarajapuram.
The cost of the land was met by contributions from the early Resident Owners of Thiagarajapuram as per the original documents.
Initially, a thatched shed was put up for conducting music programmes. Later, a small roofed office room was constructed through donations and collections. A Shrine for Sadguru Sri Thiagaraja Swamigal was constructed with the contributions from Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer with the portrait of Sri Ramar Pattabhishekam, the Music Trinities – Sadguru Sri Thiagaraja Swamigal, Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar and Sri Shyama Sasthrigal and Purandara Dasar.
The Samajam is located near Mundaka Kanni Amman Temple, Thiagarajapuram is also referred to as “UTHARA PANCHANADHA KSHETRAM” in conjunction with the Original Panchanadha Temple in Thiruvaiyaru
His Holiness Sri Chandrasekara Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam graced and stayed at the Samajam Premises for a few days, poojas were performed by him. His Holiness informed that some great soul has attained liberation earlier at the place which houses the Samajam Premises and instructed to install a Vigraham of Sadguru Sri Thiagaraja Swamigal
As an ardent devotee of HH Paramacharya Swamigal and Sadguru Sri Thiagaraja Swamigal, Sri Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar took it as an order and installed a Panchaloka Vigraham of Sri Thiagaraja in the year 1952, meeting the cost by collections through his Harikatha Kalakshepams.
Thus, Guru Maharajapuram Sri Viswanatha Iyer constructed the Temple Premises and his disciple Sri Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar installed the Panchaloka Vigraham of Sri Thiagaraja following agama sastra proceedings.
From that time onwards daily poojas, abhishekam on Panchami Days and Annual Aradhana are performed in the temple. Initially, Sri Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar and his family members took care of poojas and daily anna neivedhyam etc., to the deity. A regular priest has since been appointed for the purpose of Daily Poojas. This is the only place at Chennai, where the Panchaloka Vigraham of Sri Thiagaraja has been installed to inspire the musicians performing.
Renovation of the Shrine and Kumbabishekam was perfomed in the year 1990 under the Chairmanship of Shri T.T.Vasu.
The Thatched shed could not withstand the rigors of vagaries of monsoon, cyclone, etc., necessitating regular repair and replacement at considerable cost and hardship. A need for Permanent Roofed Hall was felt and Bharatha Ratna Shrimathi M.S. Subbalakshmi & Sri T. Sadasivam readily accepted to fund cost of construction of Asbestos Concert Hall to start with and again for the extension of the Hall and RCC Mini Halls, Kitchen, etc., through the funds raised by her Music Concerts.
The present office room and another RCC Mini Hall along with asbestos covering the Shrine were constructed with the contribution and efforts under the chairmanship of Enfield Shri S. Viswanathan. He also contributed of the concert hall on northern and eastern side with asbestos roofing and front elevation/arch. The false ceiling for the main part of the concert hall was contributed by Sri Obul Reddy.
Smt. Padmavathi Anantha Gopalan contributed for new flooring of the main concert hall, temple and northern side of the concert hall of the Samajam. Many donations in large sums were made by Philanthropists and organisations from time to time. Many popular musicians performed fund raising music concerts for the benefit of the Samajam
Special mention deserves to be made for the services rendered by Sarvasri Patthamadai Krishnan and V. Parthasarathi, apart from that of Parur A.Sudaram Iyer and Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar, for their selfless efforts and perseverance in the growth of the Samajam to its present position.
In the AGM of 1999, it was resolved, as a onetime measure, to have Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavathar a Life Time Trustee, a unique recognition to the selfless services rendered by him to the Samajam are carried on by two independent wings of Samajam, the Governing Body and Trust Board.
