Kanaka Dasa

Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609) was a Haridasa saint and philosopher, popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa (ದಾಸಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಕನಕದಾಸ). He was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician. He is known for his keertanas and ugabhoga, and his compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music. Like other Haridasas, he used simple Kannada and native metrical forms for his compositions.

Life

Kanaka Dasa was born into a Kannada Kuruba (shepherd) Hindu family in Baada village, near Bankapura in Karnataka, and was a warrior at Bankapura fort. He was taught by Srinivasacharya. As a child, he became an expert in ''tarka'', ''vyakaran'', and ''mimamsa''. Based on one of his compositions, it is interpreted that he was seriously injured in a battle and was miraculously saved. After this incident, he gave up his profession as a warrior and devoted himself to composing music, writing literature and explaining philosophy to people. His early work includes poems titled "Narasimha Stotra", "Ramadhyana Mantra", and "Mohanatarangini".

In Udupi

Kanaka Dasa had a connection with Udupi as he was the disciple of Vyasatirtha Swamiji. The priests would not let him enter the ''mutt'', judging him to be a member of another caste based on his clothes, even though Vyaasaraaya Swamiji asked them to let Kanakadaasa into the temple.

It is believed that something unnatural happened when Kanakadasa was outside the temple, waiting to be allowed to enter. It is believed that during those days, when Kanaka Dasa was not allowed to have the ''darshan'' of Krishna, the deity turned around to face west. The story perplexed the orthodox community, but Professor Sudhakara (Karnataka University, Dharwad) says this story was construed and spread later. Bannanje Govindacharya was also of the same opinion.

Writings

Major works

* Nalacharithre (ನಳಚರಿತ್ರೆ)
* Haribhakthisara (ಹರಿಭಕ್ತಿಸಾರ)
* Nrisimhastava (ನೃಸಿಂಹಸ್ತವ)
* Ramadhanyacharithe (ರಾಮಧಾನ್ಯಚರಿತೆ), a rare work on class struggle
* Mohanatarangini (ಮೋಹನತರಂಗಿಣಿ)

Kanakadasa wrote about 240 Carnatic music compositions (''kirtane'', ''ugabhogas'', ''padas'', and philosophical songs) besides five major works. Around 100 songs in Kannada and 60 songs in English are published in popular books.

Kanakadasa Jayanthi

Kanaka Dasa's birthday is celebrated in Karnataka, particularly in the Kuruba community. In 2008, Government of Karnataka decided to commemorate his birthday as a state festival and declared 15 November a state holiday.

Kanakadasa Palace

During an excavation at Baada, Shiggaon region of Karnataka, the archaeological department found ruins of a fort and a palace which was identified as the magnificent era of Kanaka dasa (who was earlier called Thimmappa Nayaka). The State Government of Karnataka has built a new fort, palace and idols of Kanaka Dasa and his life scenarios commemorating the religious leader.

Bhakta Kanakadasa Postal Stamp

In 1990, the Government of India honoured Kanaka Dasa by releasing a postal stamp in his name.

In popular culture

Kannada actor and singer from the Kannada movie industry Dr. Rajkumar played Kanaka Dasa in the movie Bhakta Kanakadasa and the movie received a good response from the public.

Girish Karnad made a documentary film, ''Kanaka-Purandara'' (English, 1988), on the two medieval Bhakti poets of Karnataka.''Kanaka-Purandara''
''IMDb'' ''Frontline (magazine)'', Vol. 16, No. 03, January 30 - February 12, 1999.

See also

* Baada, Shiggaon
* Purandaradasa

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dasa, Kanaka
Carnatic composers
Bhakti movement
Indian social reformers
Indian male poets
History of Karnataka
Indian Vaishnavites
People from Haveri district
Kannada people
Haridasa
1509 births
1609 deaths
16th-century Indian poets
Poets from Karnataka
Vijayanagara poets
Scholars of Vijayanagara Empire