He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the development of the South Indian classical music tradition.
Tyagaraja is said to have composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama; some 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.
These kritis are composed on the Goddess Tripurasundari of the Thyagaraja Temple at Thiruvottriyur.
[1] Thyagaraja composed the following krithis on the deities Saptarishishwarar and his consort Pravrddha Shrimati at their temple in Lalgudi (previously known as Thiruthavathurai).