Carnatic Music & Sri Purandaradasar

|| Hari Sarvothama Vayu Jivothama ||
|| Sri Raghavendra Gurubyo Namaha ||

|| namah sripAdarAjAya namastE vyAsa yOgine namah purandarAryAya vijayAryAya te namaha ||

Aradhane of Sri Purandaradasaru:

Sri Purandara Dasaru (1480-1564) who is hailed as Daasa Sreshtam Dayanidim is no exception and in all his Keertanas, Suladis and Uga bhogas he has highlighted several aspects of Sri Madhva philosophy. Aradhane of Shri Purandaradasaru is celebrated on 01st Feb 2022(Pushya,Uttarayana,Amavasya) throughout bharatha desha. It is said Lord came down from Vaikunta to take his dear devotee and thus Purandaradasar after his sangeetha seva disappeared in Purandara Gadde at Hampi, and continuing his service as Sri Narada at vaikunta.

Difficulty in learning Carnatic Music:

Due to difficulty in learning Sangeetha(Carnatic music) the great art was declining in India especially during 14th century, people felt very tough to learn and practice as a result. Sri Purandaradasaru knowing the same decided to bring the guidelines/rules of learning music and restructured the learning method, and he brought in Balapadam(lessons) such as “Saralivarisai”, “Billari Geetham”, “Jantavarisai”, “Suladhis” etc for the students who are aspiring to learn Carnatic Music. This has been still in practice and followed even now which made everyone to learn the great art easily by the grace of Dasaru. This was the great work of Naradar avatara Sri Purandara Dasarus to Carnatic Music and we should ever remember the service of Purandara Dasar. Hence he is always called as the Pithamahar of Carnatic Music.

Compositions of Sri Purandaradasaru:

Sri Purandara Dasaru has composed nearly 4,75,000 songs. Sri Vyasarayaru,his teacher himself has called his verses as “Purandaropanishat”.How great is Sri Purandara Dasaru talents?He has also said, among the devotees of Hari,Purandara Dasa is the greatest! It is usually rare that Guru acknowledge greatness of his shishya but it has happened to Dasaru, where great Gyanin Vyasarajaru has praised his shishya Purandara Dasaru.

List of Sri Purandaradasaru compositions:

In one of his songs Sri Purandara Dasaru(“vasudevana namavaliya kalipdhiyanu vyasa rayara dayadhindha bannipennu”) has acknowledged the total count of his compositions as 4,75,000 adding to that he has clearly said all those composed are only because of his Guru Vyasa Tirtha’s blessing, otherwise it would not have been possible. Dasaru in of his songs say without Gurus grace salvation is never possible, and this statement proves that Dasaru had high respect and bhakthi on his gurugalu.