Kanakadasa
Kanaka Dasa (1508 -1606)
Kanaka Dasa great saint ,poet , ardent devotee of Krishna and desciple of Sri Vyasaraja Thirtha was born in Halumatha tradition of kuruba community. He propagated vedanta to masses through bhakti movement in Karnataka. He was born in Kaginele, Dharwad district in Karnataka state of India.
Kanakadasa, born in a shepherd community of Karnataka, was a precocious child and exhibited remarkable talent in the composition of religious poetry. He renounced the householder's life and turned an ascetic and went on wandering to different places of pilgrimage. He developed an ardent devotion to Lord Hari, Preached spirituality to the people around him and composed many devotional poems and Kirtanas in his inimitable musical style.
Kanakadasa belongs to the tradition of Haridasa literary movement which ushered in an era of devotional Kannada literature in Karnataka. He is the greatest saint Karnataka gave.
KANAKA'S WINDOW (KANAKANA KINDI)
Numerous are the saints, philosophers and scholars who came on pilgrimage to Udupi. Among them Kanakadasa is particularly remembered in Udupi, because of the special grace bestowed on him by Lord Krishna
Kanakadasa under the spiritual influence of Sri Vadiraja Swami, came on a pilgrimage to Udupi. He was not allowed to enter the Krishna Shrine in those days due to the customs followed those days. He sang praising the Lord while camping in a hut in front of Krishna Temple. So intense was his devotion , that without entering the shrine he was granted a sight of Krishna's image through a crack appearing on the western wall of the temple. It is believed that Sri Vadiraja Swami set up a window to commemorate this divine event. This window, with a trellis work of peep-holes is popularly known as Kanakana kindi (Kanaka's window). Peeping through this window, a pilgrim can have a sight of Krishna's image without entering the temple. After this window was installed, it has became customary for all devotees to get the view of Krishna's image through this window, before entering the temple. Recently an image of Kanakadasa has been installed at the spot of the hut where he used to sit and pray.
The memory of Kanakadasa has been permanently etched in the temple of his beloved Lord Krishna . Today that window stands as a tribute to the unique saint of Karnataka.
Kanaka Dasa & Kanakana Kindi (window of Kanaka) enjoys a special place at the Shri Krishna temple of Udupi.
Udupi Krishna Temple
Udupi Krishna Temple was established by Madhwacharya, the propounder of Dwaitha philosophy, lived and taught 700 years ago. Madhwacharya established the eight Sanyasi Mutts at Udupi. According to legned, the statue of Sri Krishna in the famous temple here is believed to have turned around to give darshana to the kuruba devotee, Kanakadasa, who was not allowed to enter temple due to customs followed those days. It is best known as the seat of Madhwa renaissance, founded by the sage Madhwacharya, outcome of which are Ashtamathas, located in the famous Car Street, surrounding the Sri Krishna Temple.
The Eight monastries (Ashta Matha's ) are Krishnapura, Pejavara , Putthige , Sode (Sondhe ) , Kaniyoor (Kaneyur ) , Adamaru , Shirur , Palimaru
Current Paryaya Swamiji for temple is Sri Vidyasagara Teertha Swamiji - Krishnapura Math
Beacon of Modern Hindu Philosophy / Society ,renowned & most revered swami of India who has kept rich tradition in Udupi Krishna Temple
Sri Sri Visvesa Tirtha Swamiji of Pejavar- Udupi Mutt, a living legend
Major Works
- Nalacharitre
- Haribhaktisara
- Nrisimhastava
- Ramadhanyacharitre; a rare work on class struggle
- Mohanatarangini
Kanakadasa wrote about two hundred songs (kirtans, padas and mundiges or philosophical songs) besides five major works
Most of the compositions of Kanaka have the Mudrika Kagineleyadi Keshava There is a class of compositions called Kanaka Mundige full of abstract imagery, subtlety of metaphysics and inscrtable implications, challenging the finest in the Bhakta.
Links
