The Story of Purandar Das (as requested)

[Guest guest]

THE STORY OF PURANDAR DAS

 

Purandara Das (1484-1564) was a saint, a poet and musician of Karnataka. He was

born at Purandargarh near Pune in Maharashtra, finally settled at Hampi

(Vijayanagar), a border area for both Northern and Southern cultures.

 

The Modern period of Karnatic music begins with "Purandaradas". He was the

pioneer who blended the rich musical streams of Dravidian and Aryan music into

one stream called Karnatic music of South India, a highly rich traditional and

classical musical system.

 

He is therefore known as the grandfather of Karnatic music. The present day

theory and practice of music is due entirely to him. It was he who fixed the

Mayamallava Gaula scale for preliminary Raga. It was he who prescribed the

elementary lessons in Karnatic music. Even Thyagaraja drew inspiration from

him.

 

His original name was Srinivas Naik. In his earlier days he was miserly and

cruel. His wife Sri Lakshmi Saraswati Bai was pious and kind to fellow human

beings. The turning point in the life of Srinivas Naik occurred at the instance

of the Lord who in the guise of a poor Brahmin begged for alms for conducting

the sacred thread ceremony of his son.

 

Srinivas Naik in his customary style drove away the disguised Brahmin who

straight away went to his wife and repeated the drama. His wife being very kind

gave away her diamond studded nose ring and the Brahmin went to Srinivas Naik

again and asked him to give some money in return for the diamond-studded

ornament. Srinivas Naik identifying it as his wife's ornament kept it in his

iron safe and went to his wife to enquire about the nasal ring.

 

Bewildered at the turn of events Sri Saraswati Bai decided to end her life and

was about to take poison. In the container Lord put a similar ornament to the

utter surprise of Saraswati Bai who showed the same to Srinivas Naik as if

nothing has happened.

 

Surprised at this Srinivas checked his iron safe and found the ornament kept by

him in tact. This made him realise that the Brahmin in disguise was none else

than Lord Vithala.

 

He repented for his misdeeds, begged pardon of the Lord, and renounced all his

wealth to become a saint and was called "Purandar Das". It was his pious wife

who was responsible for this transformation.

 

Srinivas Naik became Purandara Das after receiving intimation form his Guru Sage

Vyasa Raya. He took to the life of a true saint over night. He spurned worldly

riches for spiritual wealth. The transformation of Srinivas Naik a fabulous

merchant in gold, silver and gems, a great miser into a devotee of lord Hari

can be called ' Sinner turned into saint. '

 

He was indeed a true Daasa having unflinching faith in God and total surrender

to God. This attitude to total surrender implies leading a life of detachment

and sacrifice.

 

Purandara Das took the puranas, and the epics of the masses through his musical

composition couched in simple and lucid, (his native tongue) sweet Kannada.

 

Purandara Das's Message through his songs:

 

"Man has constantly and continuously chanted the name of Hari. For a spiritual

aspirant the guidance of a Guru is essential. Human Birth is sacred. Human body

hough perishable has to be taken care of because it is through this perishable

medium, the imperishable Aatma can be realised.

 

Do not be over fastidious about external purity-a bath in a river will not make

an aspirant clean. Inner cleanness is possible only when the aspirant gets rid

of desire, anger and greed."

 

Sing only to praise God, to express your gratitude to God. That song is not a

song if it does not praise God. Keep yourself away from women and wealth.

Purandar Dasa composed many songs described the life of child Krishna and

episodes from the Ramayana.

 

"Oh man realise that eyes are given only to see God.Ears are given to listen to

story of God.Tongue is given to sing the glory of God.Hands are given to

worship the God.Each organs and sense of man has to be dedicated to the service

of God and man"

 

 

Compiled from the following sources:

 

http://www.theindianculture.com

http://www.angelfire.com/

[Guest guest]

This was so beautiful dear Madhvi, as well as the one on 'SURDAS'. Please

Sis....pls keep them coming!

Sairam.

Rina

[Guest guest]

Sairam Madhvi,

 

I learnt a lot from the inspiring life stories of Surdas and

Purandhara Das.Please continue to provide us all with similar

stories of other renowned saints and savants ( including other

religions ).

 

Love and Light,

 

Ragu.