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Sri Kanaka Dasa: A great poet and musician from Karnataka

A great writer, poet, composer, and social reformer, Shri Kanaka Dasa is referred to as one of the stalwarts and most significant contributors to Carnatic music.

jaswantsingh Published On November 11th, 2022 Leave a comment

Brief Introduction About Sri Kanaka Dasa

Sri Kanaka Dasa (1508-1606) was a great poet and musician of Karnataka, in the tradition of Sri Purandara Dasa.
He belonged to the Kurube Gowda community, who were warriors.
He later turned to the Haridasa tradition and became a poet who composed beautiful lyrics in Kannada.

What is in news about Sri Kanaka Dasa?

Sri Kanaka Dasar Jayanthi is celebrated on the 18th day of Kartik Month as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
This year it falls today i.e. November 11, 2022
On Sri Kanaka Dasar Jayanthi PM Sri Narendra Modi will pay floral tributes to the statues of saint poet Sri Kanaka Dasa.

Early Life of Sri Kanaka Dasa

Kanaka Dasa’s original name was Thimmappa Nayaka.
His parents were Biregowda and Beechamma.
He was a contemporary of Great Devotee, Poet, and Composer Sri Purandara Dasar, though a little bit younger.
He was born in 1508 and died in 1606.

How a warrior turned into a great Devotee?

When Sri Kanaka Dasa was a young man, he was defeated in a battle and mortally wounded, but he was miraculously saved.
This incident led him to give up his profession and he turned his mind towards a spiritual path.
He joined the Haridasa tradition and was renamed Kanaka Dasa by his spiritual master, Vyasaraja.
Kanaka Dasa composed beautiful literary works in Kannada. He was a poet-composer, a religious and social reformer, and a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He was a social reformer who lashed out at the evils of society, like the caste system and the divide between the privileged and the poor.

Kanaka Dasa the Eternal Devotee and Composer

Kanaka Dasa was not just a social reformer and a great composer; he was mainly a devotee of Lord Narayana.
He was a disciple of Vyasaraja of Udupi.
He lived at Tirupathi in his last days.
A great writer, poet, composer, and social reformer, Shri Kanaka Dasa is referred to as one of the stalwarts and most significant contributors to Carnatic music.
He has composed Hari Bhakti Sara, Nala Charitra, Mohana Tarangini, Nara Simhastava, and devotional songs in Kannada like ‘Krishna Nee Begane’ (Yaman Kalyan) His devotional songs and devoted work elevated the backward communities.
His signatures were ‘Kagineli Kesava’, ‘Velapuri Kesava’, etc.

The Story of Kanakana Hindi – Kanaka’s Window

Sri Kanaka Dasa longed to visit the Udupi Krishna temple and have a Darshan of the Lord, but the narrow-minded priests would not allow him inside the temple as they considered him to be of inferior birth.
Sri Kanaka Dasa was distraught and expressed his anguish to Sri Krishna. Immediately, the temple wall collapsed on one side, a slit appeared in the Sanctum, the idol of Sri Krishna turned towards him and he was able to have a direct Darshan.
The wall was later reconstructed, but a small window was built there to mark the place where the Lord gave Darshan to his anguished devotee. This window is called Kanakana Hindi – Kanaka’s Window. Even today, devotees have a Darshan of the lord through this window before proceeding to the main entrance of the sanctum.

Importance of Sri Kanakadasa Jayanthi

Kanakadasa Jayanthi is considered one of the most important and popular festivals in Karnataka for the Kuruba Gowda community.
However, the day is celebrated all across Karnataka and is also a regional public holiday in the state. The day honours the saint and musician Kanakadasa.
The day aims to recall his extraordinary work and personality that spread the message of peace and quality in society.

Sri Kanaka Dasa: FAQs

Q. Was Sri Kanaka Dasa a Brahmin?

Ans: No, he belonged to the Kurube Gowda community, who were warriors.

Q. When Sri Kanaka Dasa was born?

Ans: He was born in 1508 and died in 1606.

Q. Sri Kanaka Dasa wrote in which Indian Language?

Ans: Sri Kanaka Dasa composed beautiful literary works in Kannada.

Kashi-Tamil Sangamam

The birth anniversary of the famous poet, Shri Kanakadasa is celebrated as Kanakadasa Jayanthi by the government of Karnataka. It is celebrated on the 18th day of Kartik Month as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar.