SRI KANAKA DASA - GREAT DEVOTEE OF UDUPI SHRI KRISHNA -HISTORY /// HSARI SARVOTHAMA - VAYU JEEVOTHAMA /// Kanaka Dasa (1509-1609) was a poet, philosopher, musician and composer from modern Karnataka. He is known for hisKirtanes and Ugabhoga, compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music. Like other Haridasas, he used simple Kannada language and native metrical forms for his compositions. He was a disciple of Vyasa thirtha and a follower of Dwaita philosophy propounded by Madhvacharya. The life of Kanakadasa states that he hailed from the Kuruba Gowda community, born to Biregowda and Beechamma. At his birth he was christened Thimmappa Nayaka , by his parents and later assumed the name, Kanaka Dasa, given to him by his spiritual master, Vyasaraja. The life of Kanakadasa took a sudden twist with the intervention of divine grace. It is believed that Kanakadasa was engaged in a battle with an opponent to win the hand of one Krishnakumari. The divine intervened in the form of Lord Krishna, and suggested him to surrender. Kanakadasa blinded with passion, refused to succumb and continued with the battle, only to suffer mortal wounds. However, with divine intercession he is miraculously saved. From then on till the end of his life, Kanakadasas passion was directed towards Lord Krishna, that he came up with innumerable compositions in Karnatic music on the Lord. He was all put into one, a composer, a musician, a poet, a social reformer, philosopher and saint. The life of Kanakadasa has it that he was inspired by the Haridasa movement and became a follower of its founder, Vyasaraja. It is believed that he spent his later part of his life in Tirupati. Kanakadasa in Udupi The divine miracle in Udupi, in the life of Kanakadasa, which still stands as a testimony, is familiar among people. However, to make a mention of it during Kanakadasa Jayanti is to partake of the bliss of the divine intercession. Kanakadasa belonging to a lower caste, was denied admission into the temple of Udupi, where he wanted to worship Lord Krishna. His eyes were about to be plucked for the breach of the rule, when the idol of Lord Krishna turned around to the direction where Kanakadasa stood, with his voice breaking forth into devotional rendition; the wall is said to have broken to reveal the sight of the Lord to Kanakadasa. Later a window, called the Kanakana Kindi was created on the wall, where to this day, devotees set eyes on the Lord. It is believed that, the idol turned itself to face the west from its former way of facing the east. Kanakadasas Compositions The numerous compositions of Kanakadasa in Carnatic music, reveals the dominance of devotion in the life of the saint. Nalacharitre (Story of Nala), Haribhaktisara (core of Krishna devotion), Nrisimhastava (compositions in praise of Lord Narasimha), Ramadhanyacharite (story of ragi millet) and an epic, Mohanatarangini (Krishna-river), were some of the most popular ones. His compositions not only revealed the aspect of devotion, but also carried messages on social reformation. While condemning, the mere following of external rituals, his works also emphasised the importance of moral conduct. An interesting incident in the life of Kanakadasa, crisply reveals the spiritual maturity of the saint. Once when he was confronted by one Vyasatirtha, in a gathering, as to who would attain Moksha or liberation, Kanakadasa humbly asserted that only he can attain Moksha, much to the shock of the pundits. When asked for an explanation, Kanakadasa revealed the essence of Vedanta in his reply, that only the one who has lost the I, the ego would attain Moksha. This is represented in the popular phrase quoted by the saint, “I shall go (to heaven) if my-self (my selfishness) goes (away) Let us thus dwell on the crux of Vedanta, as revealed by Kanakadasa to seek eternal liberation. Let us celebrate Kanakadasa Jayanti holding on to this view. Events pack the story titled Kanakadasa: The Golden Servant. Kanakadasa is born when Lord Venkatashwara visits his parents in a dream. Mother and son and are driven out of their village after the death of his father, the village chieftain, because of the machinations of his father’s rival, Mallanayaka. Mother and son relocate to Kaginelli. In Kagenelli, Kanakadasa finds copper pitchers full of gold coins when digging in a field. He uses his new found wealth for feeding the needy and for the repair of dilapidated temples. Mallanayaka, fearfully of the young man’s popularity, send his henchman to kill Kanakadasa. Kanakadasa not only survives but when convalescing composes a famous poem called Haribbhakti Sara. Kanakadasa’s growing reputation as a great devotee and man of discipline earns him the position of administrator of two districts. An administrator, Kanakadasa does much to improve the lot of the people. When his young wife and son die unexpectedly, he undergoes a spiritual transformation. Kanakadasa gives up the material world and, when the Lord visits him in a dream, takes up the life of a wandering minstrel. As a first step, he joins the monastery of a well-known spiritual master and despite the jealousies of the other high caste disciples of the master, he passes all the spiritual tests he faces. He moves to Tirupati where his compositions and songs, springing spontaneously on special occasions, have the power to alter even nature’s disastrous events, like stop an earthquake. Kanadasa spends the rest of his life visiting the various places of pilgrimage in the Viyajanagara kingdom, performing miracles, composing bhajans and turning people God wards. Kanadasa, poet, philosopher, musician and poet actually lived (1509 to 1609). His compositions are part of the tradition of Carnatic music. You cannot think of Udupi and Lord Krishna without thinking of his famous devotee, Sri Kanakadasa. Udupi is now synonymous for not just for the Sri Krishna Math/Temple but also for Sri Kanakadasa and his complete devotion to Lord Krishna. When you enter Car Street in Udupi, the Kanaka Gopura catches your attention. Below thisgopura is the Kanakana Kindi . In front of thiskindi , is the Kanaka Mandira or Kanaka Gudi , which has an idol of Sri Kanakadasa in it. This is the place where saint-composer, Kanakadasa stayed in 16th century during his visit to Udupi. It is said that Sri Kanakadasa lived in a hut in this place in front of the gopura . Later a small shrine was constructed in his memory and it came to be known as Kanakana Gudi or Kanakana Mandira. Though many saints such as Sri Purandaradasa and Sri Vijayadasa visited Udupi and were devotees of Lord Krishna, it is Sri Kanakadasa’s association to Lord Krishna, which is more strong and deep. In fact Udupi became famous due to Sri Kanakadasa. Revelation There are many stories about Lord Krishna’s revelation to Sri Kanakadasa in appreciation of his devotion. It is said Sri Kanakadasa had come to Udupi as a pilgrim. The saint Vaidraja of Sode Math, who knew about Sri Kanakadasa’s devotion, made arrangements for his stay in the hut, in front of the gopura of the temple. But Sri Kanakadasa could not get into the temple. There was a barrier in the form of a wall between him and Lord Krishna, to whom he was totally devoted to. Sri Kanakadasa sang devotional songs in the praise of the Lord on his tambura, a stringed musical instrument. One night, there was a tremor, and this led to a small crack in the wall of the Sri Krishna Math/Temple. Thus Sri Kanakadasa could have a darshan of the lord. By so doing, the Lord sent a message to all the devotees that it is only devotion which moves him, not the status or class or caste of the devotees. Kanaka Kindi Sri Vadiraja, who witnessed this, instead of plastering the wall, got a window constructed there. Since then the window has come to be known as Kanakana Kindi . Sri Kanakadasa could have the darshan of the Lord through his physical eyes. To keep this memory alive, devotees, who come from different parts of the country to Udupi, first have a darshan of Lord Krishna through the Kanakana Kindi and then enter the temple. This applies to the seers of the ‘Ashta Maths’ as well. The seers, who come to take charge of the management of the Sri Krishna Temple during the Paryaya festival, first look at the idol of Lord Krishna from the Kanakana Kindi and then enter the temple. This tradition is said to have been started by Sri Vadiraja. According to another story, the idol of Lord Krishna was facing the east. Lord Krishna turned to the west to give darshan to the great devotee, Sri Kanakadasa, through the Kanakana Kindi because he was not allowed into the temple as he belonged to a lower caste. Rice Gruel In another incident, Sri Kanakadasa had baked rice cake (rotti) for lunch. His attention was caught by rice gruel (ganji) flowing from a hole near the kitchen. Sri Kanakadasa filled it in a coconut shell. He then took the rotti and ganji and kept them in front of the temple and prayed to the Lord to accept his offerings, and then ate it. Sri Vadiraja came to know about it. He told his attendants that Kanakadasa was a great devotee. God was more pleased by his offering of ganji and rotti than dishes. He ordained that ganji and rotti be offered to the Lord to perpetuate Sri Kanakadasa’s memory. The tradition continues to this day. The coconut shell has been replaced by a silver utensil. ************************************************************* Kanakadasa has special association with Udupi and as he was the follower of Sri Vyasaraja Swamiji. On the advice of Vyasaraja Swamiji he had come to Udupi. But it a time when the discrimination based on the caste was at its peak in the society. The Brahmin fundamentalists did not let him enter the temple as he was from a lower cadre of the society. He stood outside the temple and was lost in his prayers to Lord Krishna by singing songs in praise of the Lord. Owing to the call of his devotee Lord Krishna gave darshan to Kanaka through a window.The idol of Lord Krisha turned around and a crack appeared in the western granite wall of the temple, making it possible for Kanadadasa to have a glimpse of the Lord. The crack in the wall was replaced with a smalll window, which stands as a tribute to Kanakadasa.All devotees who visit Udupi Krishna temple take a peek at Lord Krishna throgh the small window, wishing to relive the ecstasy of Kanakadasa. It is also a memorial to Kanakadasa and a testimony to the eclectic Hindu belief that devotion, poetry and sainthood are above caste and creed and certainty above orthodoxy.In all Hindu temples the deity and the main door of the temple face the east, but in Udupi the deity faces the west which is not along the lines of the Hindu vasthu shastra of temple architecture.Which gives credence to the belief that something strange and unexplainable happened here which caused the main deity to face west. Read more: likhati THANKS FOR SOURCES :- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaka_Dasa indianbookreviews/ boldsky thehindu likhati From COIMBATORE VENKATA SUBBARAO RAGHAVENDRA RAO //// SHRI HARI KRISHNAARPANA MASTHU ////
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:48:13 +0000
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