Remembering Purandara Dasa
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The aradhana of the saint, philosopher, devotee, musician, scholar, poet and a social reformer falls this week.
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Saint Purandara Dasa
Ancient Kannada literature has been classified into two parts - Vyasa Sahitya and Dasa Sahitya. The former consists of translation of Sri Vedavyasa's original works in Sanskrit into Kannada like the Vedas, Bramhasutras, Puranas, Bharata, Bhagavata and so on besides original works of Sri Madhwacharya like Anu Vyakhyana and others, commentaries on them by Jayateertha Charya , besides original works of the commentators.
Dasa Sahitya consists of various Kirtans, Ugadigalu, Suladigalu and more by the Haridasas of Karnataka, right from Sri Sripada Rajaruand Purandara Dasa up to modern times. This year Purandara Dasa's aradhana falls on January 29. The divine saint composer of the 16th century regarded as Sangitha Pitamaha enriched the Kannada literature with his superb, devotional compositions numbering 4,75,000.
All the Kirtanas speak of the supremacy of Lord Vishnu.
In one composition, he illustrates the efficacy and supremacy of Rama Nama, so dear to Gandhi, Rama Mantrava-Japiso-Hee-Manuja-Aaa Mantra-yii - Mantra - Japisi - Kedalu Beda-Somasekhara-Tanna-Bhamage-Helida Mantra. (Rama Nama is a powerful mantra capable of warding of all evils and calamities, sung incessantly even by gods like Brahma.) Purandara Dasa was a social reformer also.
He criticised Brahmanism, which laid stress on external rituals, when he declared in one of his kirtanas that Madi-Madi-yendu-Adiga
dige-Haruve-Madi-Maduva-Bage-Beruntu Podavi-Palakna-Pada- Dhyanavanu-Bidade - Maduvada-Madiyu - Hotte Volagina-Kama-Krodha - Mada-Matsarya - Bittu-Madidare - Adu Madiyu
(simply wearing wet clothes is no Madi - discarding the evils of anger, jealousy, hatred and so on which is inside you is real Madi ).
Purandara Dasa, a billionaire, turned a sanyasi overnight, renouncing all his riches and propertyand established himself as a Haridasa. His kirtanas hold a wealth of wisdom as he advises not to be carried away by the ephemeral pleasures, social status, power and so on. Yi-Siriya-Nambi-Higgalu Beda-Manave-Vasudevana-Bhajisi-Sukhiyagu-Manave (Don't be misled by this wealth but salute Vasudeva and be happy. Be humble and useful to your fellow-beings.)
A saint, a philosopher, devotee, musician, scholar, poet and a social reformer, Sri Purandara Dasa led a holistic life.
R. DWARAKANATHA RAO & R.B. PRAVEEN
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