04 Sep Glories of Sri Purandara dasa – An amazing Vaishnava
There are several devotees of Lord Krishna who have mesmerized the Lord and His devotees with the depth of their deep devotion. One such Vaishnava Sri Purandara dasa, hails from the South Indian state of Karnataka where the spoken language is Kannada. He has written around 475,000 songs in both Sanskrit and Kannada. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding proponents of Carnatic music. His kritis are sung in many households and are very popular due to their simplicity and relevance.
He was the disciple of the great saint Vyasaraja. As instructed by his Guru, Sri Purandara dasa ends his compositions with the ankita nama (ending name) of Purandara Vittala after the Lord of Pandharpur.
One of the simplest songs he wrote is in Raga Malahari which is a janya raga ( born from) the main Raga Mayamalavagowla. This is taught to music students as part of the foundation course.
Kereya niranu kerege chelli… Varava padedavarante kaarino.
Hariya karunadolaada bhagyava Hari samarpane maadi badukiro
Sri Purandara Vithala Raayana Carana Kamalava nambi badukiro
Hariya karunadolaada bhagyava Hari samaroane maadi badukiro.
Kereya – the pond, Niranu- water, Kerege – to the pond, chelli – pour it back, Varava – boons or benedictions, padedavarante – like those who have ( attained boons)
Hariya – Of Lord Hari, karunadolaada – whatever one attains due to the mercy of Lord Hari, bhagyava – the good fortune, Hari samarpane maadi – offer it to Lord Hari, badukiro – please live
Sri Purandara Vithala Raayana – of Sri Puranadara Vithala, Carana Kamalava – Lotus feet, Nambi – having faith in, badukiro – please live.
Just as one uses the water of the Ganges to worship the Ganges, Sri Puranadara dasa requests us to use all that the Lord has bestowed upon us, in His service. Boons and benedictions got from Him must always be engaged in His service. Whatever good fortune each one has, is by the mercy of the Lord. Sri Puranadara dasa is urging us to kindly offer it back to Him by dovetailing His gifts in His service. He begs us to have firm faith in the Lord’s lotus feet.
I had learnt this song in my music class, and had no clue as to what it was all about. It was part of the syllabus and had to be learnt. That was all that mattered to me. Ever since I started reading Srila Prabhupad’s Bhagavat Gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam, this song has come alive to me.
The word “dovetail” has become a familiar word. I now understand that we need to dovetail everything that Krishna has kindly granted us to please Him. That is the fruition of everything that we possess. This is Krishna Consciousness applied in daily life. Combining the advice and instructions given to us by Sri Purandara dasa and Sri Krishna through the teachings of Srila Prabhupad. If we like to cook, we can cook delicacies for Krishna. If we like to draw or paint, we can draw Krishna’s pastimes or illustrate the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam shlokas. Singing, dancing, cleaning, writing, speaking…everything can be dovetailed in Krishna’s service.
This is the art of spiritualising all material things, talents and abilities using them to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna who grants us these. Except for envy, all our emotions can also be dovetailed in His service.
Life is short, it is getting shorter and more uncertain in these Corona ridden times. Let us become better day by day in the art of dovetailing Krishna’s property in HIs service for His pleasure. When we are armed with the blessings of our Gurudev, everything becomes possible.
HG Sharanmukhi DD
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa,
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma,
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
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