Kanaka Dasa was one of the devotees of Krishna and an influential person in the Vaishnava bhakti movement in Karnataka. He was born in Haveri district in Karnataka state.

Overview

In the 16th century, the laws of the time prohibited non-Orthodox people from entering into the sanctum sanctorum of Hindu Temples, and in Kanaka Dasa's case it was Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. According to one legend, however, a portion of the wall of the temple is said to have broke, the Krishna murti turned around, and by Krishna's grace, he was given darshan of the murti. The window is now called Kanakana Kindi.

Like Tukaram, his life demonstrated that devotion to God was the sole criteria for acceptance, not ancestry. For more information, see Vaishnava Theology.

Biography

Kanakadasa (c 1509-1609 A.D.) belongs to the tradition of Haridasa literary movement which ushered in an era of devotional literature in Karnataka. He is the greatest saint Karnataka gave. Thimmappa was his original name born to Beregowda and Beechamma, at Bada Village, He belonged to Kuruba community and was the local chieftain (Nayaka). He came to be called 'Kanaka Nayaka' as he found a

Kanaka Nayaka being of the warrior community (Kuruba) his defeat in the field of battle, directed him to the path of devotion. Kanaka Nayaka threw away his sword when the "inner call" came. He was initiated by Vyasaraja and came to be called as Kanakadasa. Kanaka Dasa spent later years of his life most in the company with Vyasaraja, He was already an author of Narasimha stora, Ramadhyana Mantra, Mohanatarangini before he became a follower of Vyasaraja. The deity he worshipped was Adikeshava of Kaginele, presently in Haveri district of Karnataka. Kaginele, now a village, was a prosperous place and trading center in middle ages. He lived at Tirupathi in his last days.

Although he comes from Kuruba caste and belongs to Kshatriya varna, he is literally worshipped as saint and social reformer by all sections of society, including Brahmanas, even today.

Kanaka Dasa was well educated, had a sharp eye and a mind that analysed social developments. His poems and kirtans deal with every aspect of life and expose the futility of external rituals. They stress the need for cultivation of moral values in life.He neutralised the dissidences of Caste and groups and attempted at the solidarity of all castes by abrogating references to Jati, Kula and other

Though an ardent devotee of God, Kanakadasa was a rebel who protested against social evils like caste system, untouchability, etc. through his poems. Commenting on the Brahminical hypocrisy, he says that he would like to be a servant of a chandala than to be a vicious Brahmin.

Major works

1. Nalacharitre
2. Haribhaktisara
3. Nrisimhastava
4. Ramadhanyacharitre
5. Mohanatarangini

Kanakadasa wrote about two hundred songs (kirtans, padas and mundiges or philosophical songs) besides five major worksIn Ramadhanyacharitre, an allegory on the conflict between the socially strong and weak castes and classes, presented as an argument between two foodgrains, rice and ragi, is a most creative literary piece with a powerful social message,In the work, rice represents the socially powerful, such as Brahmins, and ragi (millet) represents the working people. The two grains come before Rama to argue their case and establish their superiority. In the end Rama sends both of them to prison for six months. At the end of the period, rice has turned rotten while the hardy ragi survives, earning Rama's blessings.

Kanakadasa, once wanted to have a 'darshan' (encounter) of the Lord Krishna in Udupi. He was not allowed into the shrine by orthodox Brahmins as he was not a Brahmin by birth. Kanakadasa then started singing praise of Shri Krishna and was lost to outside world in a corner outside the temple. Legend has it that the idol of Krishna, which heretofore had been facing east, turned around to face west, as the western wall collapsed so that Kanakadasa could have darshan, A small window was constructed at the breach later. The idol of Lord Krishan is still today worshipped through the window. This window came to be known as Kanakana kindi (Kanaka’s window). The memory of Kanakadasa was permanently etched in the temple of his beloved Lord Krishna .It is scientifically believed that there was a minor earthquake at night when Kanakadasa was singing outside the western wall. A crack appeared in the western wall and Kanakadasa was able to see the idol of Krishna in plain view. In a composition of Kanakadasa, he makes a reference to the shaking of the earth at night, while he was praying with his eyes closed. Today that window stands as a tribute to the unique saint of Karnataka.

See also

• Purandara Dasa
• Shri Madhvacharya