Daasavaryam Dhayaayuktham
Dhooreekrutha DhuraashiSham
Harikathaamrutha vakthaaram
JagannaTha guroom Bhaje!!
Sri Jagannatha Dasa belongs to the group of illustrious Haridasas or the “Servants of God”. Like his Gurus, Vijaya Dasa and Gopala dasa, he belonged to the second group of Haridasas, while Sripadaraja, Vysaraja, Vadiraja, Purandara dasa,and kanaka dasa belong to the first group. They conveyed to the common people the principles of Madhwa Philosophy in Kannada which were so far accessible only to pundits and to those who knew Sanskrit. He (formerly known as Srinivasa) was born on 27th July 1728 at Byagavatti, Manavi taluk, Raichur District in a Brahmin kulkarani family. He received his education in the six shastras under the famous Sri Varadendra swamy of Rayar mutt and became a great scholar. He became so proficient in Sanskrit that he scoffed at those who talked, discussed and deliberated on philosophical doctrines in Kannada. Once he was so much puffed up with pride of his Sanskrit learning that when Vijayadsa invited him for Lunch, he refused to go to him on the pretext that he was suffering from a stomach-ache. , as Vijayadasa was propounding the Madhwa Philosophy in Kannada songs instead of in Sanskrit. For this reason, he suffered severely from an attack of consumption. No medicine could cure him. Lord Srinivasa, Ghatikachala Mukhya PraaNa could not do anything. Peformed rigorous seva at Manatrlaya and Sri Raghavendra advised him to meet Vijayadasa and beg his pardon. He approached Vijayadasa and seeing him surrendering himself and given up his pride, he sends him to Gopala dasa. Taking pity on him Gopaladasa gave him a piece of Jawar bread, sanctifying it with Dhanwantari Mantra and asked him to eat assuring him that he would be cured. Then he became a new man, hale and healthy. At Tirupathi, when he had gone on pilgrimage with Gopaladasa, the Guru parted 40 years of his life and passed on to them by his yogic powers. Srinivasa in the form of Gopaladasa takes pity and feeds this Acharya. He then went to Pandarapur to take darshan of Lord Panduranga. While taking bath at the Chandrabaga of the Bhima River he dive into the water and to his great amazement found a stone on which was inscribed the words “ Jagannatha Vittala ’’ He composes in Kannada the first song, “ Tatikkoti Nibhakaya Jagannatha, Vitalayya, Vitalayya.’’ He carried home joyfully after feeling personally fed by panduranga and assumed the God –given name of Jagannatha vittala and composed songs with the nom-deplume or Ankitha of Jagannatha vittala. Hence –forward, Srinivasa became known as Jagannatha dasa. “ Yendu kaambenu Panduranaga mooruthiya” and “Kande Pandarirayana’’ were the second and third songs and “Palisu pandarireya and Dhanyanaadhe ’’ were the songs subsequently composed by him there.
Jagannatha dasa has composed nearly 10,000 songs, They are lucid, melodious and musical. Besides this, he has composed a monumental work called Sri Harikathamrutha Saara. It is considered as an encyclopedia of Madhwa philosophy in Kannada, As he was well versed in Shastras and Madhwa Philosphy, it was easy for him to reduce the essential principles of Dwaitha philosophy contained in 37 works of Madhwachary in only 32 cantoes of his famous book. It is written in a lucid, chaste and flowing style in Bhamini Shatpadhi metre. It is so popular among the Kannada people and especially among the women-folk that they daily sing many cantoes of this sacred book, in their homes. It is epitome of Madhwa philosophy in Kannada. It is described as the prototype of the great work, Nyaya Sudha of Sri Jaya Thirtha.Besides being a great poet. Sri Jagannatha dasa was an artist of great merit. As he used to paint images of Gods in Rangoli, he was called, Rangavalli –dasa or Rangoli-dasa., or Ranga-valida Dasa. He drew the picture of Sri Ranaganatha in Ragoli in the house of Dewan Poornaiya, of Tippu Sulatan time. But he did not draw the crown and jewels. When asked by the dewan, he said that lord Ranaganatha did not wear them on that day. Dewan sent a messenger to Sri Rangapatam and to ascertain the truth of this fact. He was wonder-struck to know that what Sri Jagannatha dasa had said was perfectly true. So the dewan began to have great reverence and respect for him, as he had miraculous power.
Jagannatha Dasa was a contemporary of Sri Sathybodha of the Uttaradhi mutt, Sri Varadendraswamy of Sri Rayar Mutt and of Sri Dhirendra Swamy of Ritti and of Vishu theertha of Maddur, the celebrated author of Bagavata sarodhdhara. They used to meet together often and discuss and deliberate the shastraas and philosophical problems and some times travel together mostly on the sacred banks of the river Varadha. So Ritti, Karjagi and SavaNoor have become famous places of pilgrimage for Madhwas, as these places have been sanctified by the dust of their holy feet.
The Mantrakshate Tatte given by Sri Jagannatha Dasa to Sri Sathy Bodha swamy is still in Savanur Mutt and Mantrakshatis are still being distributed to devotees from this Tatte alone even to this day. Paduka of `Sri Sathybhodaswamy taken by Jagannatha dasa are being worshipped at manavi at the house of Jagannatha Dasa. The Pallakki given by Rani Lakshammanni ,Maharani of Mysore and the Gokallu of Kumsi, Leaning plate , Saligramaas used by him, Vrindavana made out of Tulasi kaashta etc are still at Manavi in his house.
Jagannatha dasa has a supreme place in Dasa sahitya as his writings and songs are superb for their poetic value and the beautiful rhythmic style of expression of Madhwa philosophy. He holds a very high place in the hierarchy of dasa Koota.He lived for 81 years one month and 20 days and performed vaikunta yatra on 17-9-1809Ad at manavi on Bhadrapada Shuddha Navami at 8-30pm on Sunday , .in Moola nakshatra Pranesha Dasa while consoling the daughter in law of Jagannatha dasa said:
“ Sreekaantha Nolidha Dasaru yi
Yugadhalli Lekhaantharahudhe Thangi,
Shoka Byaadale Naraloka uLidharemdhu yi
KAMBHA DhoLagihare Hey Neere ’’
That faith is true even for this day.
The house has been converted into a temple and the pillar , which he used to often lean, sit and sing, the glories of Hari is being worshipped by all his admirers and devotees. He is remembered for ages to come. A great aparokshjnaani who enjoyed the supreme bliss and communion with the supreme Lord Sri Hari. His work has become a veda to those who are inclined towards Madhwaism. It is said that in one of the songs of Jagannatha dasa that the presiding deities of the Varnas came forth while he was composing his great work Harikathamrutha sara and gave a splendid finish to it. Such is the masterpiece of Jagannatha dasa.
Dhyana Sloka:
JalasheshtaNIbhaakaaraMJagadeesha Padaashrayam
Jagatheethala VikhyaataMJagannatha GuruM Baje
DasavaRyaDayayuktaM DhoorikRuthadhuraashiShaM
HarikathaamRuthavakTaaraMJagannatha GuruM Bhaje
Source : http://www.dvaita.org/list/list_41/msg00033.html
No comments:
Post a Comment