Tyagaraja is said to have sung this kriti ‘Nidhi chala sugama’ in Kalyani raga, when Serfoji Maharaja tried to invite him to sing in the King’s court by sending loads of wealth. Tyagaraja responds, via this kriti, by asking – does money give much joy (‘nidhi chala sugama’) or does serving in Lord Rama’s temple bring joy (‘ramuni sannidhi seva sugama’)? He implies that, while wealth can give happiness in the short-term, only praying to the Lord can bring everlasting bliss.

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