Where exactly was the place of residence of Purandara Dasar after he gave up everything? Where did his family reside after that? I would like to visit that place. I would appreciate any information given...
thanks in advance
Purandara Dasar
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Agraja
- Posts: 55
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 18:42
Our knowledge of Purandara Dasaru's life stems mainly from the compositions of Vijaya dasa who lived a hundred and fifty years after the passing away of Purandara Dasaru. This is taken as authentic since Vijaya dAsa is believed to be the incarnation of Bhrigu muni, and an aparOksha gyani (having mystical powers).
Vijayadasa had great faith in and devotion for Purandara Dasaru. It is believed that Purandara Dasaru himself appeared in Vijaya dasa's dream and bestowed on him the ankitha 'Vijaya Vittala'. This is how the story of Purandaradasa runs:
Before renunciation of material wealth, Purandara Dasaru lived in Purandaragadha, a small town in present-day Maharashtra (India), but belonging to the then Vijayanagar
dynasty. His earlier name was Srinivasa Nayaka. He was engaged in the family business - dealing in precious stones. He was very rich and popularly known as navakOti nArAyaNA. He was a miser by nature, and cared for nothing except money.
After renunciation, which occured due to a 6 month long drawn "lIlA" of Sri Hari Vishnu, Purandara Dasaru started living the life of a mendicant, wandering the through the length and breadth of the Vijayanagar empire. It was during this time that lived in the Vyasatirtha Matha (or Vyasaraya Matha). His family of his wife, Saraswathi, and four sons, Varadappa, Gururaya, Abhinavappa and Gurmadhvapathi, accompanied him throughout. During his final years, he settled in Hampi. The mantapa (mandap) in which he stayed is known as Purandara Dasa Mantapa (mandap).
What turned the miser Srinivasa Nayaka into the him into the doyen of all haridAsas, Sri Purandara Dasaru, goes as follows:
Sri Hari Vishnu decided that it was time for Srinivasa Nayaka to give up his love of money, and take his rightful role among saints. So, He took the form of a poor brahmin and approached Srinivasa Nayaka for money in order to perform the thread ceremony of his son. Even though days rolled by, Nayaka did not give anything, but the brahmin too did not relent. He visited Srinivasa Nayaka's shop again and again. Six months passed by in this fashion. Finally, Nayaka decided that he had to do something to get rid of the brahmin. He had a collection of worn-out coins that were more or less worthless. He poured this in front of the brahmin and asked him to take one and never come back. The brahmin went away, seemingly crestfallen.
Saraswathi, Nayaka's wife, was a kind hearted soul who in her own way, tried to make amends for her husband's miserliness. The brahmin, who knew this, went directly from Nayaka's shop to his residence. He told her his story and how her husband had sent him away with nothing.
Saraswathi was appalled by her husband's behaviour. She wanted to help the poor brahmin, but felt helpless since she could not give anything without her husband's permission. When she explained her helplessness, the brahmin asked if she had something given by her parents (which, presumably, she could give without asking for her husband's permission). She agreed and gave him the diamond nose-stud that her parents had given her.
The brahmin took the ornament straight to Srinivasa Nayaka's shop. When Nayaka became angry with the brahmin for coming back, despite his instructions to the contrary, the brahmin clarified that he was there not to beg, but to pledge an ornament and take a loan. Nayaka was skeptical and asked the brahmin to show him the ornament. When he saw the ornament, he was perplexed because he immediately recognized it as the one belonging to his wife. When questioned about the ornament's antecedents, the brahmin told him that it was a gift from a benefactor.
Asking the brahmin to come back the next day, Nayaka safely locked away the ornament in a box and went home. When he saw his wife without her ornament he questioned her about it. She tried to stall him with non-committal answers, but he insisted on seeing it immediately. He was angry because he thought she had given away a valuable ornament to a beggarly brahmin.
Saraswathi felt the ground giving way under her feet. She knew that her husband would punish her if she told him the truth. Unable to think of an alternative, she decided to commit suicide. She poured poison into a cup and lifted it to her lips. Just as she was about to drink the poison, she heard a metallic sound. Lo behold, wonder of wonders, the ornament was right there in the cup. She could not believe her eyes. Her heart filled with gratitude, she prostrated before the idol of Krishna and took the ornament to her husband. Nayaka was astounded as it was the very same ornament that he had safely locked away in his shop. He quickly excused himself and ran back to the shop to check. The box in which he had safely locked away the ornament was empty! He was now completely and totally dumbfounded.
He want back to his house, and pressed his wife to tell him the truth. She told him everything that had transpired. This put his mind into a turmoil.
After deep thought, he came to the conclusion that the brahmin was none other than God Himself. He recalled all the incidents that had transpired in the previous six months. He was disgusted with himself, and his miserliness. He felt that his wife had conducted herself far more decently and generously than himself. Since it was his love of money that had made him ill-treat the Lord, he gave away all of his wealth with the Lord's name on his lips.
From that day onwards he became a devotee of Sri Hari. navkOti nArAyANa became a nArAyANa Bhakta; the hands which sported gold and diamond rings now played the tamboora, the neck which used to be resplendent with golden chains now housed the tulasi mAla. The man who had turned away countless people away, now himself went around collecting alms and living the life of a mendicant. The Nayaka who would have lived and died an inconsequential life became PurandaradAsa, loved and revered even centuries after his death. Just as the philosopher's stone turns everything it touches to gold, the Lord took a wretched miser and made him into the doyen of all haridAsas. Such was the magic wrought by the Lord!
Vijayadasa had great faith in and devotion for Purandara Dasaru. It is believed that Purandara Dasaru himself appeared in Vijaya dasa's dream and bestowed on him the ankitha 'Vijaya Vittala'. This is how the story of Purandaradasa runs:
Before renunciation of material wealth, Purandara Dasaru lived in Purandaragadha, a small town in present-day Maharashtra (India), but belonging to the then Vijayanagar
dynasty. His earlier name was Srinivasa Nayaka. He was engaged in the family business - dealing in precious stones. He was very rich and popularly known as navakOti nArAyaNA. He was a miser by nature, and cared for nothing except money.
After renunciation, which occured due to a 6 month long drawn "lIlA" of Sri Hari Vishnu, Purandara Dasaru started living the life of a mendicant, wandering the through the length and breadth of the Vijayanagar empire. It was during this time that lived in the Vyasatirtha Matha (or Vyasaraya Matha). His family of his wife, Saraswathi, and four sons, Varadappa, Gururaya, Abhinavappa and Gurmadhvapathi, accompanied him throughout. During his final years, he settled in Hampi. The mantapa (mandap) in which he stayed is known as Purandara Dasa Mantapa (mandap).
What turned the miser Srinivasa Nayaka into the him into the doyen of all haridAsas, Sri Purandara Dasaru, goes as follows:
Sri Hari Vishnu decided that it was time for Srinivasa Nayaka to give up his love of money, and take his rightful role among saints. So, He took the form of a poor brahmin and approached Srinivasa Nayaka for money in order to perform the thread ceremony of his son. Even though days rolled by, Nayaka did not give anything, but the brahmin too did not relent. He visited Srinivasa Nayaka's shop again and again. Six months passed by in this fashion. Finally, Nayaka decided that he had to do something to get rid of the brahmin. He had a collection of worn-out coins that were more or less worthless. He poured this in front of the brahmin and asked him to take one and never come back. The brahmin went away, seemingly crestfallen.
Saraswathi, Nayaka's wife, was a kind hearted soul who in her own way, tried to make amends for her husband's miserliness. The brahmin, who knew this, went directly from Nayaka's shop to his residence. He told her his story and how her husband had sent him away with nothing.
Saraswathi was appalled by her husband's behaviour. She wanted to help the poor brahmin, but felt helpless since she could not give anything without her husband's permission. When she explained her helplessness, the brahmin asked if she had something given by her parents (which, presumably, she could give without asking for her husband's permission). She agreed and gave him the diamond nose-stud that her parents had given her.
The brahmin took the ornament straight to Srinivasa Nayaka's shop. When Nayaka became angry with the brahmin for coming back, despite his instructions to the contrary, the brahmin clarified that he was there not to beg, but to pledge an ornament and take a loan. Nayaka was skeptical and asked the brahmin to show him the ornament. When he saw the ornament, he was perplexed because he immediately recognized it as the one belonging to his wife. When questioned about the ornament's antecedents, the brahmin told him that it was a gift from a benefactor.
Asking the brahmin to come back the next day, Nayaka safely locked away the ornament in a box and went home. When he saw his wife without her ornament he questioned her about it. She tried to stall him with non-committal answers, but he insisted on seeing it immediately. He was angry because he thought she had given away a valuable ornament to a beggarly brahmin.
Saraswathi felt the ground giving way under her feet. She knew that her husband would punish her if she told him the truth. Unable to think of an alternative, she decided to commit suicide. She poured poison into a cup and lifted it to her lips. Just as she was about to drink the poison, she heard a metallic sound. Lo behold, wonder of wonders, the ornament was right there in the cup. She could not believe her eyes. Her heart filled with gratitude, she prostrated before the idol of Krishna and took the ornament to her husband. Nayaka was astounded as it was the very same ornament that he had safely locked away in his shop. He quickly excused himself and ran back to the shop to check. The box in which he had safely locked away the ornament was empty! He was now completely and totally dumbfounded.
He want back to his house, and pressed his wife to tell him the truth. She told him everything that had transpired. This put his mind into a turmoil.
After deep thought, he came to the conclusion that the brahmin was none other than God Himself. He recalled all the incidents that had transpired in the previous six months. He was disgusted with himself, and his miserliness. He felt that his wife had conducted herself far more decently and generously than himself. Since it was his love of money that had made him ill-treat the Lord, he gave away all of his wealth with the Lord's name on his lips.
From that day onwards he became a devotee of Sri Hari. navkOti nArAyANa became a nArAyANa Bhakta; the hands which sported gold and diamond rings now played the tamboora, the neck which used to be resplendent with golden chains now housed the tulasi mAla. The man who had turned away countless people away, now himself went around collecting alms and living the life of a mendicant. The Nayaka who would have lived and died an inconsequential life became PurandaradAsa, loved and revered even centuries after his death. Just as the philosopher's stone turns everything it touches to gold, the Lord took a wretched miser and made him into the doyen of all haridAsas. Such was the magic wrought by the Lord!
Last edited by Agraja on 23 Jun 2009, 21:15, edited 1 time in total.
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ganeshpv
- Posts: 164
- Joined: 01 Jun 2009, 22:28
According to the story I was told when I was growing up, Purandara dasa is from a village near Bellary (in Karnataka). Once he became a dasa (one who roams singing) he mostly resided in Udupi.
Wikipedia version has a bit different story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purandara_Dasa
Wikipedia version has a bit different story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purandara_Dasa
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Agraja
- Posts: 55
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 18:42
Ganesh, it is correct that that the hometown of Purandara dasa is a disputed matter, as no written evidence exists that can give a definitive answer. From my personal understanding however, Purandara dasa must have grown up in Karnataka uptil his parent's death at the age of 20, in order to facilitate his education in Kannada, which is unfeasible in Maharashtra. After his parents' death, he must have moved to Maharashtra which is close to a then military encampment. Doing so, he facilitated his trade of Jewels with the warriors and locals there who had plenty of plunder to trade. A good location for his business.
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ramakriya
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 02:05
Even though the birthplace of Purandara dasa is not accurately documented, it is very likely it is NOT Purandaragad. Many scholars are of the opinion that he might have hailed from Kshemapura, also called Purandarapura in old records [ now near Gerusoppa in central Karnataka].ganeshpv wrote:According to the story I was told when I was growing up, Purandara dasa is from a village near Bellary (in Karnataka). Once he became a dasa (one who roams singing) he mostly resided in Udupi.
Wikipedia version has a bit different story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purandara_Dasa
Also, after becoming a dasa, he probably spent time traveling to different places. but seems to have spent considerable amount of time at Hampe and Pandarapur. He may also have spent time at places like Belur, Udupi and Tirupati too.
Here is a story I wrote sometime ago on this subject
"The Jeweller of Kshemapura" - http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/2009/01 ... emapura-2/
-Ramakriya
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rshankar
- Posts: 13754
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26
There is a little known film about the life of purandara dAsaru (eponymously titled), that was produced by Madras-based bharatanATyam guru Smt. Krishnakumari Narendran - all the actors were students of hers - all under 10-12 years old. A beautiful film, with very nice music, and the kids are adorable. The story-line sticks to the one related by Agraja. Copies of the VCD of this movie are rather elusive, and I think someone in one of the suburbs of Mumbai may well be the sole contact person. But, it is well worth the trouble to try and get a-hold of that.
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svkashyap
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 12 Jan 2007, 15:25
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rshankar
- Posts: 13754
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26
It should be - I remember making my sister run around for it some years ago - she finally ran it down to earth in Bombay (as it was then) - it is a 2-VCD set. I had seen the movie when it was first released, and so wanted to get the VCD.arasi wrote:Ravi,
That is news to me! If it is a children's production, it is even better. Wonder if is available.
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smala
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:55
here is a clip from an old kannada movie -- in b&w - Navakoti Narayana, on the life story of Shri Purandara Dasa. -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACaTtl8383U.......other similar clips come up on sidebar............if anyone can upload the entire movie on youtube, now, THAT would be something to look forward to !
I actually struck pay dirt ! Time to rock.....visit here.....dunno if it's the full flick or what.....haven't seen it yet.... but there appear to be 3 segments starting with the Censor Board certification and credits.............http://www.videogirmit.com/navakoti-nar ... 23b7a.html.........have a blast..
I actually struck pay dirt ! Time to rock.....visit here.....dunno if it's the full flick or what.....haven't seen it yet.... but there appear to be 3 segments starting with the Censor Board certification and credits.............http://www.videogirmit.com/navakoti-nar ... 23b7a.html.........have a blast..
Last edited by smala on 08 Aug 2009, 00:27, edited 1 time in total.