Kanaka Dasa, also known as Daasashreshta Kanakadasa, was a Haridasa saint and philosopher who lived from 1509 to 1609. He was a well-known poet, reformer, musician, and composer of Carnatic music. He is well-known for his keertanas, ugabhoga, and compositions for Carnatic music in the Kannada language. He composed in simple Kannada and with local metrical patterns, like other Haridasas. As a brilliant poet, saint, philosopher, composer, and musician, Kanakadasa Jayanthi is remembered.
Kanaka Dasa's Early Life and Childhood
Thimmappa Nayaka was Kanaka Dasa's first name. He was born in the year 1509, the son of Biregowda (Kanaka Dasa's father's name) and Beechamma (Kanaka Dasa's mother's name). He was Purandara Dasa's contemporary, but a little younger.
He was mortally wounded and defeated in a war when he was a young man, yet strangely he survived. After this encounter, he decided to leave his job and pursue a spiritual path instead.
His spiritual leader, Vyasaraja, called him Kanaka Dasa once he joined the Haridasa lineage. Beautiful Kannada literary masterpieces were written by Kanaka Dasa. He was a poet and composer, a proponent of social and religious change, and a follower of Lord Vishnu.
Life
Being a member of the Kuruba Gowda warrior community, Kanaka Nayaka was led to the path of dedication by his failure in combat. He was given the name Kanaka Nayaka after discovering a gold mine (kanaka means gold in Kannada).
Kanaka Dasa had a good education and was able to examine society in great detail. According to one of his songs, he abandoned his career as a warrior after suffering a grievous injury in battle and being miraculously saved, and instead dedicated his life to writing music and literature with philosophy expressed in everyday terms. He seems to have started visiting places frequently to learn more. But he had continued to hold a fair perspective toward all religions. At a young age he authored poetries Narasimha stotra, Ramadhyana Mantra, and Mohanatarangini.
In Udupi
Due to the fact that he was a student of Vyasatirtha Swamiji, Kanakadasa has a special connection to Udupi. He had travelled to Udupi at the invitation of Vyasaraya Swamiji of Vyasaraja Matt. However, it was a time when caste-based prejudice was most prevalent. Despite Vyaasaraaya Swamiji's request that they permit Kanakadasa entry to the temple, the priests refused to let him in, believing him to be a member of a different caste based only on the garments he was wearing. Kanakadaasa was concentrating on Lord Krishna and singing hymns to Sri Krishna outside the temple. He camped outside the temple for several weeks while doing this, cooking all of his own food.
He wrote kirtans (poems), which are still relevant today, in honour of Lord Krishna despite being upset at being barred from the temple. He sang about how all people are equal because they share the same water, see the same sun, and are born with the same physical characteristics. Hindu temples always have their god facing east. But in Udupi, the deified form of Lord Krishna faces the west.
Kanakadasa is said to have been standing outside the temple while he awaited permission to enter when something odd is thought to have taken place. Kanakadasa is said to have given his all to singing kirtans for his Lord during those times when he was forbidden from seeing Lord Krishna. The Lord Krishna statue miraculously shifted to face west. Kanakadaasa, a devoted follower of Sri Krishna, saw his Lord via a gap in the temple's outer walls. The orthodox community was astounded as to why such a thing could have occurred, however Professor Sudhakara (Karnatak University, Dharwad), who served as the director of the Kanaka chair, claims that this myth was afterwards fabricated and circulated. Bannanje Govindacharya held a similar viewpoint.
Kanakadasa is reputed to have given his all to his Lord by singing kirtans during those times when he was forbidden from seeing Lord Krishna. The Lord Krishna statue, miraculously, swung around and faced the west. Kanakadasa, a fervent follower of Sri Krishna, was able to see his Lord through a gap in the temple's exterior walls. The orthodox community was left perplexed as to how something like that could have occurred, however Professor Sudhakara (Karnatak University, Dharwad), who served as the director of the Kanaka chair, claims that this narrative was made up and propagated later. The similar idea was shared by Bannanje Govindacharya as well.
Compositions of Kanaka Dasa
The prolific Carnatic music compositions of Kanakadasa show the importance of devotion in the saint's life. Some of the most well-known ones were the epic Mohanatarangini (Krishna-river), the Nalacharitre (Story of Nala), Haribhaktisara (Core of Krishna Devotion), Nrisimhastava (Compositions in Praise of Lord Narasimha), and Ramadhanyacharite (Story of Ragi Millet). His songs offered themes for social change in addition to displaying the aspect of devotion. His writings condemned the mere performance of external rites and emphasised the value of moral behaviour. An intriguing event in Kanakadasa's life vividly illustrates the saint's level of spiritual development.
