Copy of: Purandara Dasa and Sri Venkatachalapathy of Thirumalai--Part 1
From the Bhakti List Archives
• November 4, 1996
Retransmittal ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: V. Sadagopan, 75041,3037 TO: OM, INTERNET:bhakti@lists.best.com DATE: 11/3/96 10:13 AM RE: Copy of: Purandara Dasa and Sri Venkatachalapathy of Thirumalai--Part 1 Dear Fellow members of the Bhakthi group : A dear member of the group asked me to write on the special bonds that Purandara Dasa had with Srinivasa of Thirupathi . I am happy to do so. Kannada is not my mother toungue. Hence , I request the indulgence of Kannada speaking friends of this group to bear with me, when I make number of mistakes in transcribing the sahityam of his "Saurabhas " or Bhakthi-laden blossoms forming the garland Purandara Dasar placed at the feet of Purandara Vittala . " Saurabha " is an apt term coined by m ydear friend ,Late Dr. Yamuna .T. Thathachari of first thirumaaLigai at Srirangam. He was a great scholar befitting lineage that goes back to Yaamunaacharya . He came up with the title " Purandara Dasa Saurabhas for a beautiful audiocasette of Purandara Dasa Krithis sung majestically by Srimathi Jayashree Varadarajan of Sunnyvale, California . I will focus on the Srinivasa Saurabhas in these postings . Sri Purandara Dasa (Born AD 1494) lived for 80 years on this earth , half of which was spent as a Sanyasi. He is considered Naradaamsam .Satya Dharma Teeertha of Vyasaraya mutt conferred on Srinivasa (Purvaasrama name ) the dasa name of "Purandara Dasa ". He derived his inspiration from the three strands of musical tradition-Karnataka, Maharashtra and Hindusthani - and poured his bhagavd bhakthi in the two musical styles of Margi and Desi . As a Karnataka Sangita Pitamaha , he followed the foot steps of the great Talapaakam Annamacharya , who sang the glories of Thriupathi VenkataramaNan day and night . Visits of Purandara Dasa to Thirupathi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ************ Purandara Dasa in his dasa Vritthi woe his Tulasi maala , Gajjai and held his chaplaa kattai in one hand and his tampuraa in the other hand and climbed the seven hills many times to have the darsanam of Srinivasan. He had a great attachment to his " name sake " , Srinivasan . He will run off to Thirupathi in a moment's notice , when the thought of Srinivasan overpowered him. He offered his Sangeetha Saurhabham on those occsions to the Lord of seven hills. One such krithi is set in Ragam Sindhu Bhairavi : PALLAVI : VENKATAACHALA NILAYAM VAIKUNTAPURA NIVAASAM PANKAJA NETHRAM PARAMA PAVITHRAM SANKA CHAKRA DHARA CHINMAYA RUPAM SARANAM: AMBHJOTHBHAVA VINUTHAM AGANITHA GUNA NAAMAM THUMBHURU NAARADA GAANA VILOLAM MAKARA KUNDALA DHARA MADANA GOPAALAM BHAKTHA POSHAKA SRI PURANDARA VITALAM (SRI VENKATAACAHLA NILAYAM ) Here , Purandara Dasa worships Srinivasa as Sri Vaikuntanatha with His base in Thirumalai. There he sees Him with His lotus eyes ,sanka and chakra , chinmayaananda rupan enjoying the divine music of sage Narada and Thumbhuru and the eulogy of His lotus-born son, Brahmaa.. His indescribable sacredness and unimaginable Nama Mahimaa are then referred to . Lord of Thirumalai must have given darsanam to him as the most enchanting Madana Gopala wearing Makara Kundalam . Dasar salutes this protector of devotees in the rakthi ragam of Sindhu Bhairavi . On yet another occasion , He chose Bhairavi ragam and offered saraNaagathi at the feet of Srinivasa : PALLAVI : SARANU VENKATARAMANAA NINNE SARANAVA NAMBITEH NAANU ANUPALLAVI : KARUNAA SAAGARA KAAMITHA PALAVEEVAA SARANA BHAKTHARA KAAVA GARUDA VAAHANA DEVA BHAKTHA VATSALA HARIYEH NAMMA BHAVA DHURITAPARIHAARANEH CHARANAM : AKILAMTAKOTI BRHMAANDA NAYAKA SARANOBHAKTHARAGAAVA SURA MUNIGALEHDEVA DESAGATHIKAVAADHA NAMMA SESHAGIRI ISAA SRI VEMKATA GIRI THIRUMALESAA DAASA DAASARASALAHUVA SRI PURANDARA VITTALA (SARANU ) He cries aloud to the Karunaa saagaran and addresses Him as the munificient boon-granter . He says : " O Lord who rushes on the back of Garuda to protect the devotees in distress ! Hari ! Bhaktha Vatsalaa! please banish my fears and sufferings associated with Samsaaric life .I am counting on Your Dayaa and Anukampa ". In the charana Vakhyams , Dasar addresses Srinivasa as the Antharyaami Brahmam residing inside the crores and crores of chetanas and Achetanas of His universe and salutes Him as the Lord of the Seven hills sanctified by His residence .He recognizes him as the Aapath Bhaandhavan , who comes to the rescue of Devas and Sages during their times of distress . He points out tha this Seshaadri Sekhara Vibhu never fails to protect His devotees. He declares his Maha Viswasam as the central credential of his Saranaagathi to VenkataramaNan . Dasar chose a rare ragam known as Siva KalyaaN for his third krithi on Srinivasa , who gave darsanam to him as Govinda . In this Govinda Naama sankeerthanam echoing in the seven hils as "Govindaa, Govindaa " as we hear it even today, when the Bhakthaas come in front of Venkataachalapathi , Dasar declares : PALLAVI : GOVINDAA NIMMA NAAMAVE CHENTHAA CHARANAM : aNureNu truNa kaashta paripurNa GovindA nirmalaathmakanaahi iruvateh aanandaa(Govindaa) srishti sthithi laya kaaraNa Govindaa Yee pari mahimaayeh tiLiyuvadaanandaa (Govindaa) Parama purusha Sri Purandara Vitalana paaduva daasara salahoovavadhaanandaa (Govindaa ) In the charana vaakyams, Dasar describes the pervasive and seamless presence of Srinivasa Govindan from atoms , dust particles , blades of grass to dry branches and every thing in this universe. The greatest joy that a Jeevan can experience is the understanding of this principle of yours and to stay in the blemishless and pure state (NishkaLanga, Nirmala ) exhibited by You .O Lord , the one responsible for the creation, protection and destruction of the universe and its beings ! What a joy it is to understand this truth about yourself being the root cause for the functioning of Your universe and to sing about your limitless auspicious GuNaas . The Dasaas immersed in the nectar of joy through the Nama Sankeerthanam of your Sahasra Naamaas forget every thing and do not let their mind wander into worthless pursuits. I will continue with Dasar's Venkatesa Krithis in Ragas Thodi ( Ninna Nodi ) , Madhyamaavathi ( Thirupathi VenkataramaNa ninage ), Kambhoji ( Naanenu Maaditheno Venkataraaya ) , Ananda Bhairavi ( Srinivaasa Nineh Paaliso sruthajana Paala ) and Vasantha ( Baarayaa VenkataramaNaa). Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan
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