Kanakadasa: A warrior turned saint, poet and philosopher

Saint Kanakadasa was among the foremost of Haridasas’ belonging to the Haridasa literary movement which ushered in a new era of devotional literature in Kannada speaking regions during the 14th to 19th centuries. 

image: hindu-blog.com

Like other prominent Haridasas’ of his time Kanakadasa also popularly revered as “Bhakta Kanakadasa”, thanks to the Kannada film by the same name, is known for his total dedication and commitment to his deity.

Kanakadasa was born on 06 November 1509 in Baada village of Shiggaon taluk in the undivided Dharwad district as Thimmappa Nayaka. Baada is now under the purview of Haveri district. He lived for a hundred years. His parents were Bachamma and Beerappa.

Thimmappa Nayaka hailed from a chieftain family of Kaginele also called as Kaginelli and was serving as a warrior at the nearby Bankapur fort. He was well educated and inherited the amazing capacity of analyzing society threadbare.Various theories are attributing his sudden transformation from a normal human being to a religious personality. One such explanation, based on a poem he penned later claims he remaining alive despite severe injury in war changed his course of life.

He bid adieu to the military career and switched over to an altogether different world of poetry, sainthood and philosophy composing devotional music and literature in the common man’s language.

Kanakadasa, at a very young age, scripted poetic versions like Narasimha Stotra( compositions in praise of Lord Narasimha), Ramadhyanacharithre(Story of Ragi millet) and an epic and Mohanatarangini(Krishna river). 

Mohanatarangini is said to be the first literary work of Kanakadasa. His writings are mostly in Sangatya, Shatpadi and Shataka metres. It is also said Kanakadasa was around 35 years old when he wrote Mohanataragini.

His other major masterpieces were Nalacharithre, Haribhakthisara and Nrisimhastava. He is said to have written about 240 Karnataka music compositions like keerthane, upabhogas, padas and mundiges or devotional songs. 

Kanakadasa was a great human being and strongly believed that all people irrespective of their varied backgrounds were the same and equal in all respects. To underscore his belief and conviction he stresses in one of his poems: Kula Kula Kulavendu Hodedhadadiri...thus highlights the significance of the human race undermining the man-made differences.His Ramadhyanacharithre deals with an unconventional plot of superiority between Ragi millet and Rice. The battle of words between Ragi and Rice over the establishment of supremacy goes to the court of King Rama who proves the superiority of Ragi.Thus Ragi becomes blessed by observing the qualities of Raghava, another epithet of Rama. By this particular work, Kanakadasa proves his message of poverty and humility being much above material wealth.

Kanakana Kindi

Perhaps the Kanakana Kindi episode is not just a miracle in Kanakadasa’s life but a mesmerizing instance to all those who hear it. Although all his poems end paying obeisance to Adi Keshava of Kaginele, he had a special association with Udupi for being a follower of Vysateertha Swamiji.

He visits the temple town on an invitation by his guru. But it was a time when the discrimination of people based on caste was at its peak. Though Vysateertha Swamiji had invited him personally Kanakadasa was prevented from entering the Krishna temple as according to the Vaishnav Brahmins, he belonged to the lower caste of Shepherd community.But Kanakadasa refuses to swallow the insults heaped on him by the upper caste priests. He remains unperturbed, refuses to budge and continues to meditate before the temple singing praises and songs adorning Lord Krishna.

This keeps going on for weeks and he is forced to cook his food. Probably this juncture also proved to be a testing time to the ardent Krishna disciple. In spite of all the odds and hardships on the way, he continues to remain cool and continues to pray with total surrender to the almighty.Interestingly, despite being reduced to a never before humiliation and utter desperation in his life, Kanakadasa never gave up. The several poems and keerthanas in praise of the lord written during this crucial period are remembered till date speaks about their significance.

Like every other Hindu temple, even the Krishna place of worship in Udupi faced towards the East. But, thanks to the prayers of Kanakadasa, the wall behind Lord Krishna’s statue developed a crack and the deity turned to the west to give a glimpse to the unrelenting disciple.

Since then, the portion of the wall came to be renowned as “Kanakana Kindi” which can be witnessed even to this day.

Kaginele Development Authority

Thanks to the successive state governments, Kanakadasa continues to be remembered for the coming generations as well in a meaningful manner. The state government has declared his birthday as a state holiday and the birth anniversary is being celebrated across the state in government offices, schools and colleges.

Kaginele Development Authority has been set up in 2013 in Kaginele of Haveri district. The newly built Kanakadas fort and palace have been rededicated to the general public and the site has become a favourite tourist destination over some time.

-Manohar Yadavatti