2nd February being, Sri Purandaradaasa's puNya thithi, this write-up is in its form. Listening to his composition ‘Enu dhanyaLo lakumi?, entha maanyaLo?’; I wonder was there ever any other person on this earth who could describe the same content in a much more resplendent way than Sri Purandaradaasa himself? Thyaagaraja Swami being such a great composer considered him as his Maanasa Guru.
Though Sri Purandaradaasa was, is, will be forever hailed as ‘Karnaataka Sangeetha Pithaamaha’, his contributions and remembrance is not been done the way as done to Trinities of Carnatic Music. Much to say, 21st century Carnatic musicians expect to get applauds for the main piece (Krithis) in his/her concerts than DevaraNaama (It can be rendered as heavily as the Trinity Kritis are rendered or even as RTPs).
A recap on what I have heard and read of him..,
Birth:
Once Naarada, approached Supreme almighty Vishnu seeking him to clarify as to which is his permanent abode. Lord says thus:
|| नाहम् वासामि वैकुन्टे , न योगी ह्रिदयेरवोव् |
| मत् भक्ता यत्र गायन्ति , तत्र तिष्ठामि नारदा ||
| मत् भक्ता यत्र गायन्ति , तत्र तिष्ठामि नारदा ||
At Purandaraghada, thus Naarada descended to be born as 'SrinivaasaNaayaka'.
Education:
He was given education to be well versed in Sanskrit, Music and Prakrit. Parallel to this he acquired knowledge on examining pearls.
Marriage:
Got married, to Paanduranga’s devotee, SaraswatiBhai.
A Miser:
Being a jewel merchant, his total property accounted to 9 crores, which got him the name 'NavakOtiNaarayaNa'. This business of his made him a miser.
Turn of events:
As this was not destined to, for what he was born, Lord Vishnu himself came to SrinivaasaNaayaka as a Brahmin seeking for his help to perform the upanayana for his son. As expected, SrinivaasaNaayaka didn’t help him with money. Then the Brahmin goes to SaraswatiBhai to help him for the event. She donates her Nose stud.
Taking the same Nose stud he goes to SrinivaasNaayaka to pledge it and get the money in return. Seeing the nose stud he identifies it to be his wife’s. Locking it, he returns home only to find his wife without the nose stud.
With anger, asks his wife to get it. With no option of what to be done, she stands before the Tulasi Brindavana and prepares to drink the mixture of diamond powder and water. When she is about to have it, she stopped only to hear a sound in the glass. It was the same nose stud which she gave to the Brahmin.
Looking at the nose stud which SarswatiBhai bought, SrinivaasaNayaka returns to his jeweler shop to recheck if he has both nose studs with him now. But as he opened the locker he didn’t find the nose stud which he locked.
This event made him to get contemplative about the happening & donates his whole earnings to poor.
Tutelage under Sri Vyaasaraya:
With family he reaches Hampi to meet Sri Vyaasaraya and learn under him. KanakaDaasa and Sri Vaadiraja were his co-students.
Purandaradasa:
Sri Vyaasaraya prompts SrinivasaNaayaka to compose songs on PurandaraVittala. Thus he came to be known as PurandaraDaasa.
Contribution to the current Carnatic music learning system:
Long before Sri PurandaraDaasa, many composers tried to simplify the Carnatic music learning system. But the approach wasn’t welcome. Sri Vyaasaraya assigned this to Sri Purandaradaasa. He tried different possibilities; pros and cons of introducing different ragas at the early stage of learning. With many trails and failures, he succeeded in giving the present learning format to the Carnatic music system.
Early in educating music, he introduced MaayamaaLawagowLa raga to learn saraLi & jhanti varase. Then he introduced ‘piLLari geethegaLu’ starting with LambhOdara. This followed KundhaGowra, KereyaNeeranu, Padhumanaabha etc. In this progress, students learnt different raga at right time without the introduction of too many ragas at early stage.
This procedure is followed even to this day in South India.
Once, ThaLLapaaka Annamacharya sang Padhumanaabha in the sanctum sanctorum of Tirumala temple, the abode of Lord Srinivaasa. He highly praised the contribution of Sri Purandaradaasa to the field of Carnatic music.
His compositions sums up to 4,75,000. His youngest son added 25,000 more compositions.
He was the composer who had the wit to compose songs even at very lighter instances. There is an occasion when he composed a song, being asked to compose on Green Chilli.
On the other hand, he is the composer whose compositions preach moral to the humanity along with praising god. People who have heard his compositions & understood his vast knowledge in Kannada & Sanskrit can never forget them.
And probably he is the only shishya who has got a song composed on him by his guru Sri Vyaasaraaya !
Specific to me, his influence is just beyond expressing. Have been hearing his songs since, young. Proud to own his compositions book which belonged to my grandfather, in turn presented to me by my grandmother which is 64yrs now ! :)
Well, whenever I hear his name or his songs, I bow my head to the greatest soul whose songs mean more than just moral or devotional song.
Daasarendare Purandaradaasarayya……..,
