Purandara Dasa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Purandaradasa
)
"Purandaradasa" redirects here. For the 1937 Indian film, see Purandaradasa (film).
For the 1967 Indian film, see Sri Purandara Dasaru.

Purandara Dasa
Dvaita, Vaishnavism
Religious career
GuruVyasatirtha
Part of a series on
Hindu philosophy
Orthodox
Heterodox
Sub-schools
Smartist
Vaishnavite
Shaivite
Neo-Vedanta
Teachers (Acharyas)
Nyaya
Mīmāṃsā
Advaita (Mayavada)
Vishishtadvaita
Dvaita (Tattvavada)
Śuddhādvaita
Achintyabhedabheda
Dvaitadvaita
Mahanubhava
Ekasarana Dharma
Akshar-Purushottam Darshan
Neo-Vedanta
Others
Samkhya
Yoga
Vaisheshika
Secular
  • Valluvar
Major texts
Vedas
Upanishads
Other scriptures
Shastras and Sutras
Secular ethics
  • Tirukkural
Part of
Dvaita
Saints
Haridasas
Literature
Mathas
Holy places
Hinduism portal
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Srinivasa Nayaka,also known as Purandara Dasa (

Dvaita philosophy. He was one of the chief founding proponents of Carnatic music. In honor of his contributions to Carnatic music, he is referred to as the Pitamaha (lit. "grandsire") of Carnatic music.[3][4][5][6] According to a legend, he is considered as an incarnation of Narada.[7][8]

Purandara Dasa was a wealthy merchant of gold, silver and other miscellaneous jewellery from

Alankaras,[9] and at the same time, he introduced the raga Mayamalavagowla
as the first scale to be learnt by beginners in the field – a practice that is still followed today. He also composed Gitas (simple songs) for novice students.

Purandara Dasa is noted for composing Dasa Sahithya, as a

Vittala is another name of Krishna, one of the incarnations of Vishnu
) and this same form of Krishna is his aaradhya daiva or ishta murthi or worshippable deity. His work was appreciated by many scholars of his time and later scholars.

Biography

Inscriptional evidence suggests Purandara Dasa was born to a diamond merchant in a

Kannada Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family,[12][13][14] in 1484 CE in Purandara gada,18 kms far from pune present-day Maharashtra state.[15] According to other opinions,[who?] his native town was Purandaraghatta in Karnataka,[16] or Purandaragad near Pune, but the latter is considered a historical mistake – connecting his "pen name" (his ankita) with a location that mainly served as a military encampment in the 15th and 16th century.[17] In 2018, a five-member committee set up by the Government of Karnataka to ascertain the birthplace of Purandara Dasa has submitted its report asserting Tirthahalli as the likeliest candidate. The committee included veteran singer and musicologist RK Padmanabha, scholars Aralumallige Parthasarathi, AV Navada, Veeranna Rajora, and former minister Leeladevi Navada.[18] It is now ascertained that Purandharadasa was born in Araga, Vijayanagara Empire (Modern Day Thirthahalli, Karnataka, India), Karnataka[19][20]

Purandara Dasa was the only son of the wealthy merchant Varadappa Nayaka and his wife Rukmini. He was named Srinivasa Nayaka, after the patron deity of Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. He acquired proficiency in Kannada, Sanskrit, and sacred music through education. At the age of 16, he was married to Saraswati Bai, traditionally described as a pious young girl. They had four sons, Varadappa, Gururaya, Abhinavappa and Madhvapati. He lost his parents at age 20, thereby inheriting his father's business of gemstones and pawning. He prospered and became known as Navakoti Narayana (an abundantly rich man; worth ninety million).

Popular legend narrates a miraculous incident in Srinivasa Nayaka's life, owing to which he was led to devote himself to the practice, propagation and inculcation of bhakti (devotion) towards Krishna through musical compositions. As a natural, inescapable consequence of such a transforming event, ubiquitous in the lives of several saints throughout the ages, he is believed to have relinquished his former greedy and miserly self, having realized the worthlessness of attachment to worldly possessions:[21] The deity, in a bid to cure Srinivaasa of his tenacious materialistic delusion and attachment, and thereby claim his devotion to himself, approached Srinivaasa in the guise of a poor man, with a piteous plea for money; ostensibly, the money was needed to perform His son's 'upanayana'(sacred-thread investiture ceremony).

Having been summarily rejected, mocked and turned out, the 'poor man' repeated his plea before Srinivaasa's wife; a generous soul of rigorous spiritual nature, she gave away one of her precious nose rings, unbeknownst to her husband; the 'poor man' sold the nose ring back to none other than Srinivasa himself! The shrewd Srinivasa, privy to his wife's openhandedness, immediately identified the nose ring as his wife's and hurried home; enraged and anxious to ascertain the truth of the matter, he demanded his wife to produce the nose ring before him immediately.

Realizing that Srinivaasa had grown wise to her secret donation, the wife decided to end her life with poison. Having completed her prayers to Vishnu before her attempt, she was shocked to see a nose ring inside the poison cup – completely identical to the one she had just given away. Incredulous and rapturous, she recounted the entire episode to her husband, who was bewildered and lost. Meanwhile, a search for the 'poor man' was of no avail; he had as mysteriously vanished as he had appeared! At that very propitious moment, Srinivaasa's old self – convinced of the inscrutable ways of Vishnu, having witnessed the unfailing grace that saved his pious wife, bewildered at the power that could, in a moment, produce a gold ornament by mere will – instantly shook off that beginning-less, persistent veil in the form of 'I' and 'mine', which masks most men's vision of the divine. At 30 years of age, he gave away all his wealth in charity, and with his family, he abandoned his house to lead the life of a mendicant – living on alms and singing the glories of Vishnu. In his very first song composition, he laments his wasted life of indulgence. It begins with the words "Ana lae kara" in the Shuddha Saveri raga, set to Triputa tala.

In the course of his wandering, he met the sage

Tyagaraja, has paid tribute to Purandara Dasa in his geya natakam (an opera) Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam.[23]

Influence on Carnatic music

Purandara Dasa systematized the method of teaching Carnatic music which is followed to the present day. He introduced the raga Mayamalavagowla as the basic scale for music instruction and fashioned a series of graded lessons such as swaravalis, janti swaras, alankaras, lakshana geetas, prabandhas, ugabhogas, daatu varase, geeta, sooladis and kritis.[3] Another contribution was the fusion of bhava, raga, and laya in his compositions. He included comments on ordinary daily life and elements of colloquial language in his lyrics. He introduced folk ragas into the mainstream, setting his lyrics to ragas of his day so that even a common man could learn and sing them.[24] He also composed several lakshya and lakshana geetas, many of which are sung to this day. His sooladis are regarded as musical masterpieces and are the standard for raga lakshana. Scholars attribute the standardization of varna mettus entirely to Purandara Dasa.[25]

Travelling Haridasa successors are said to have followed the systems[clarification needed] he devised, and orally transmitted his compositions. According to traditional sources, his compositions numbers as many as 4,75,000.[26] His original collection of songs is referred to as Purandaropanishat [8] as given by Vyasatirtha out of which only 1000 are available right now.

Shri.Dasa was a vaggeyakara (composer-performer), a lakshanakara (musicologist), and the founder of musical pedagogy. Musicologists call him the Sangeeta Pitamaha (lit. "grandfather") of Carnatic music.[27]

Social reforms

Purandara Dasa tried to reform existing social practices and preached through devotional songs in the local

keerthanas have simple lessons in this regard and implore men to lead the noble life of a Vaishnava.[31]

Casteism

Purandara Dasa fought the evils of casteism through his songs.[32] In his song aavakulavaadarenu aavanadarenu aatma bhavavariyada mele he wonders what is the use if one does not understand the spirit of humanism whatever caste or status one might be accredited to.[32] In the same song when relating to cows of different colours and sugarcane of different shapes he emphasizes that one's birth cannot merely decide the highness or lowness of any individual.[32] He asks will the sweetness of crooked sugarcane be also crooked or will the milk of cows of many a colour be also of many colours.[32] He asked people to do their best in the world, to provide food and charity to the poor, help others and give up attachments. He was against the caste system, and believed true caste was based on character, not on birth. Sacrifice did not imply the slaughter of animals, but the slaying of one's bad qualities.[33]

Gender equality

According to Purandara Dasa, there were no inequalities among men and women. Both of them had the same rights and obligations in their conduct of everyday life as well as observation of piety. Purandara Dasa distinctly described the quality of a virtuous woman. According to him, the neck chains, bangles and other ornaments that women wore were not important; the beauty of mind and noble conduct were her true embellishments.[34]

Untouchability

Purandara Dasa made some forceful expressions on untouchability, which was dogging society.

Holaya horagithane oorolagillave he opines that an individual should not be branded untouchable based on his/her birth in any specific caste, however it is rather his conduct which should make him untouchable if at all he can be called so. The usage of the word untouchable is not used in the limited context of physical contact with the person, it is the worthlessness of the association with that person which is highlighted here. This is evident by the subsequent expressions in the song which says that one who does not practice self-discipline is untouchable, one who plots against his government is untouchable, one who shirks charity while having wealth is untouchable, one who poisons to eliminate his opponents is untouchable, one who does not use soft language is untouchable, one who prides over his purity of caste is untouchable and finally one who does not meditate on Purandara Vittala is untouchable.[32] Dasa's message is loud and clear rejecting untouchability in our society.[32] He uses the name of Purandara Vittala to imply any God.[32] This is evident from his other songs on various Gods and Goddesses.[32] Similar ideas were expressed by many other poets also.[32]

Legacy and depictions in popular culture

In contemporary music

Statue of Purandara Dasa

In the pure Carnatic tradition,

Mysore University
for her contributions to Purandara Dasa's music.

Though the compositions of Purandara Dasa are originally in the ragas of the Carnatic system of music, his compositions have been adopted and made equally popular in

Hindustani music. Hindustani music legends such as Bhimsen Joshi, Madhav Gudi and Basavaraj Rajguru
have made them more popular in recent years.

Classical vocalists and musicians such as

Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams is also propagating the dasa krithis through the Dasa Sahitya Project. He also composed the first lullaby songs in Carnatic music, such as Thoogire Rangana[35] and Gummana Kareyadire,[36]
which led to the creation of many similar songs by others.

Memorials and monuments

The Purandara Mantapa[37] adjoining the Vijayavittala temple at Hampi is one of the long-standing monuments relating to Purandara Dasa. This is where he is said to have composed and sung in praise of Vishnu.

Purandara Dasa is said to have composed his well-known song, ‘Aadisidaleshoda jagadoddharana’ on infant Sri Krishna, in

Channapattana taluk, Karnataka. A small mantapa outside the temple is named after him, where he is said to have stayed as he passed through the village.[38]

A statue of Purandara Dasa has been erected at the foothills of Tirumala in Alipiri.[39][40] A statue of Purandara Dasa adorns the Asthana Mandapam (auditorium) on the Tirumala hill.

A huge statue of Purandara Dasaru is erected at the holy premises of

Uttaradi Matha
,Bangalore

Sri Purandara Dasa Memorial Trust (SPDMT),[41] formed in Bangalore in 2007, has been actively involved in promoting and researching all aspects of the life and works of Purandara Dasa. A 3500-square-foot concert hall, called 'Purandara Mantapa', has been erected on the premises of the Trust.

The Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha (ISS) at Indiranagar, Bangalore formed in 1986, has dedicated an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 called Purandara Bhavana[42] exclusively for cultural events, inaugurated by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam,[43] to his memory.

Salutations

  • On 14 January 1964, the India Security Press – Department of Posts had issued a stamp in honour of Purandarasa Dasa on his 400th death anniversary.[44]
  • Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam has propagated and popularised the literature of Purandara Dasa under the Dasa Sahitya Project.[45]

Biographical movies and documentaries

Three

biographical films
, in the Kannada language, have been made on the life and compositions of Purandara Dasa.

Aradhana

Main article:
Purandaradasa Aradhana

Aradhana is a religious-devotional observation, held annually, to remember and honor saintly persons on the anniversary of the completion of their earthly lives. Purandara Dasa's aradhana or punyadina is held on the pushya bahula amavasya[48] of the Indian Chandramana calendar (a new moon day, generally in February–March). Musicians and art aficionados in the state of Karnataka, South India and many art and religious centres around the world observe this occasion with religious and musical fervour. His compositions are sung by established and upcoming artists on this day.

In 2022, aradhanas are happening in India and around the world even to this day.

Compilations of Purandara Dasa's lyrics

  • Gaja Vadana Beduve Gowri Thanaya A popular Purandara Dasa composition in Carnatic Raagam Hamsadhwani
  • Songs of Three Great South Indian Saints, Oxford University Press, 2002,
    ISBN 9780195646559
  • KavyaPremi. 1996. Purandara Daasa Haadugalu. Dharwad: Samaja Publishers. Contains ca. 225 songs; in Kannada language.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Purandara Dasa is not from Maharashtra, his birth place is Araga in Karnataka | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. August 2018.
  2. ^ Kamath, Suryanath. (1980). A concise history of Karnataka from prehistoric times to the present. Bengaluru: Jupiter Books.
  3. ^ a b Iyer, Panchapakesa. (2006). Karnataka Sangeetha Sastra. Chennai: Zion Printers. p. 93: "He is considered to be the Pitamaha of Carnatic music because he codified the teaching of Carnatic music by evolving several graded steps like Sarali, Jantai and Tattu Varisai; alankaras and geethams")
  4. ISBN 81-7648-333-8
    . p. 22: "The most well known among the haridasas is Purandara Dasa (1480 or 84-1564), whose significant contribution to South Indian music is honoured by referring to him as the 'father of Carnatic music'".
  5. ^ Parthasarathy, T. S. (1991). "Margadarsi Whom Swati Tirunal followed". The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras. 62: 72. The great Purandara Dasa was a 'Margadarsi' in many ways although he is generally referred to as the 'Pitamaha' (grandfather) of Carnatic music.
  6. ISBN 978-0-691-15491-6
  7. ^ "Purandara Daasaru Collection - Paneendra N Gautham. For "Sumadhwa Seva" Group" (PDF). Sumadhwaseva.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b "New Page 1". Madhvaradio.org. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8240-4946-1
    .
  10. ISBN 978-93-80009-31-5
    .
  11. ISBN 978-0-87395-669-7
    .
  12. ^ Purandaradāsa; Iyer, A. S. Panchapakesa (1992). Sree Puranḍara gānāmrutham: text with notation. Gānāmrutha Prachuram. Shri Purandara dasa who is considered to be the aadhiguru and Sangeeta Pitaamaha of carnatic music was born in Purandaragad in Ballary District near the town of Hampi, to a millionaire Varadappa Naayak and Kamalaambaal, a devoted wife and great lady, belonging to Madhva Desaastha Brahmin race, by the blessings of Tirupati Venkatachalapathi in the year 1484.
  13. ^ Vedavalli, Mandayam Bharati (2001). Saṅgīta śāstra saṅgraha: a guide to theory of Indian music. M.B. Vedavalli. p. 143. Purandara Daasa was the son of a rich merchant by name Varadappa Naayaka. He was a Brahmin of the Madhva Deshaasta Sect.
  14. ^ Rangarajan, S. (1997). Frontline, Volume 14, Issues 8–14. Kasturi & Sons.
  15. ^ Sharma (2000), p. 598
  16. ISBN 978-81-224-0730-3
    .
  17. ^ Desai, Krishnarao and Sharma in Sharma (2000), Appendix VII
  18. ^ "Purandara Dasa: ಪುರಂದರದಾಸರು ಪುರಂದರಗಢದವರಲ್ಲ, ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದವರು - purandaradasas native araga | Vijaya Karnataka". Vijaykarnataka.com. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Karnataka: Sri Purandara Dasa is from Araga, not Maharashtra".
  20. ^ "Purandara Dasa is not from Maharashtra, his birth place is Araga in Karnataka | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. August 2018.
  21. ^ Iyengar, Maasti Venkatesha ("Srinivasa"). 1964. Purandara Daasa. Bangalore: Bangalore Press.
  22. ^ Friday Review Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Columns: An authority on Purandara Dasa. The Hindu. 20 October 2006.
  23. ^ Thyagaraja Vaibhavam: Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam – Part 1 – Dance-Drama. Thyagaraja-vaibhavam.blogspot.in (20 July 2011). Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Purandaradasa: Fountainhead of Karnataka Sangeeta i.e., Carnatic music". Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ R. Rangaramanuja Iyengar (1977). Musings of a Musician: Recent Trends in Carnatic Music. Wilco Publishing House. p. 83.
  26. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5
    . Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  27. ^ "Stamps On Saint Composers – Part 13. Purandaradasa". Archived from the original on 30 November 2006. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
  28. ISBN 9780143414216
    .
  29. ^ Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies, Volume 3. The Institute. 1985. p. 129.
  30. ^ Tattvavaada Philosophy: The Essence of Madhva Philosophy. Madhwabrahmanas.blogspot.in (9 September 2010). Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  31. ^ Sri Purandara Dasa (1494–1564) | Rambling with Bellur. Bellurramki18.wordpress.com (19 January 2007). Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  32. ^
    ISBN 9789380009315
    . Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  33. ISBN 9788184753967
    . Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  34. ^ Kr̥ṣṇamūrti Hānūru (1991). Encyclopaedia of the Folk Culture of Karnataka: Introductory articles. Institute of Asian Studies. p. 165.
  35. ^ Toogire Rangana. YouTube (29 September 2012). Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  36. ^ Bharatanatyam dance – Gummana Kareyadire. YouTube (14 September 2010). Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  37. ^ Purandara Mantapa. Hampi.in. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  38. ^ "Mallur Krishna Temple (Ambegalu) & Ramaprameya Temple". Itslife.in. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Purandaradasa statue unveiled at Tirupati". Carnaticdarbar.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  40. ^ Purandaradasa statue unveiled at Tirupati Archived 19 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  41. ^ Welcome to Sri Purandara Dasa Memorial Trust (R). Purandara.org. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  42. ^ Purandara Bhavana Archived 21 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Isangeethasabha.in. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  43. ^ Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha Archived 21 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Isangeethasabha.in. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Commemorative Postage Stamps Of India". Ministry of Communication, Government of India.
  45. ^ "Dasa Sahitya Project". Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  46. ^ Kanaka-Purandara IMDb
  47. ^ AWARDS: The multi-faceted playwright[usurped] Frontline, Vol. 16, No. 03, 30 Jan – 12 February 1999.
  48. ^ Purandara Dasaru – Sumadhwa Seva. Sumadhwaseva.com. Retrieved 25 December 2018.

Cited sources

  • Sharma, B.N.K. (2000). History of the Dvaita School of Vedanta and Its Literature. Delhi:
    ISBN 978-81-208-1575-9
    .

Further reading

  • The Vedanta kesari, Volume 49, Sri Ramakrishna Math., 1964, p. 419
  • Kassebaum, Gayatri Rajapur. ‘Karnatak raga’ (2000). In Arnold, Alison. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. New York City & London: Taylor & Francis.
  • Dr. Vasudev Agnihotry "Purandaradasaru mattu Shri Mad Bhagavata Ondu Toulanika Adhyayana" PhD Osmania University
    Hyderabad, India
    1984 Publisher: Samskriti Prakashana Sedam. Keertana Vidya nagar sedam 58522 dist gulbarga Karnataka

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Purandara Dasa.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Purandara Dasa.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Purandara_Dasa&oldid=1215636102"