Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, colloquially known as Tyāgarāja and Tyagayya, was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or Indian classical music. He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the development of the South Indian classical music tradition. Tyagaraja composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama; most of which remain very popular even today. Of special mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Kriti (English: 'five gems'), which are often sung in programmes in his honor.