Srinivasa Bala Bharati PURANDARA DASU English Translation Rajeshwara Shastry Shishtla Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati Srinivasa Bala Bharati - 183 (Children Series) PURANDARA DASU Telugu Version Dr. S. Gangappa English Translation Rajeshwara Shastry Shishtla Published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati. 2015 Srinivasa Bala Bharati - 183 FOREWORD (Children Series) If a beautiful garden is to be raised, one needs to take proper care of tender flower plants. In the same way in order to create PURANDARA DASU a good society, great care needs to be taken of young children who are going to be future citizens of India. All their intellectual Telugu Version attainments will be futile if they fail to learn of their culture and Dr. S. Gangappa its greatness. They need to be told of great men and women of this country so that they are inspired by their ideals. The essentials English Translation of our culture should be given to them in the form of simple and Rajeshwara Shastry Shishtla charming stories. They will cherish these ideals and be guided by them. They will promote good and they will love the society T.T.D. Religious Publications Series No. 1169 they live in. They make their families proud and bring great prestige to their country when they grow up into good citizens. ©All Rights Reserved Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams have brought out these First Edition - 2015 booklets for children in Telugu under Srinivasa Bala Bharati Series. Although meant for children, they are useful to the elderly too. They have found place in the book shelves of every family. Copies : The stories of legendary men and women are narrated in a simple way. We hope that more and more children will read them and Price : profit by them. Published by I congratulate Editor-in-Chief, TTD for his efforts in bringing out the English translations of SRINIVASA BALA Dr. D. SAMBASIVA RAO, I.A.S. Executive Officer BHARATI SERIES so well. We have received co-operation of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams many learned men and women in our efforts to popularize this Tirupati. series. I am thankful to them. D.T.P: In the Service of Lord Venkateswara Office of the Editor-in-Chief, T.T.D, Tirupati. Printed at Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Press Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati. Tirupati. FOREWORD Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens. They need apt acquaintance with the life-histories of celebrated persons at tender so that they get opportunity to lead their lives in an exemplary way. They will come to know that great things such as Indian culture, basic tenets of life and moral teachings are abundantly available in the life-experiences of great men. It is observed that there is no scope to teach such subjects in school curriculum. Observing such circumstances the Publication Division of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has published about hundred booklets in Telugu about the lives of famous sages and great men written by various authors under the editorship of Dr.S.B. Raghunathacharya under “Bala Bharati Series”. The response to these books is tremendous and it has given impetus to publish them in other languages also. To begin with, some of the books are now brought out in English and Hindi by T.T.D. for the benefit of boys and girls and the interested public. These booklets, primarily intended to the growing children and also to the elders to study and narrate the stories to their children, will go a long way to sublimate the aspirations of the children to greater heights. Editor-In-Chief T.T.D. Welcome To Srinivasa Balabharati Series The series is the outcome of abundant grace of Lord Sri Venkateswara. This will be an unfailing source of inspiration to the young. It enshrines the best of Bharatiya tradition. May this noble endeavour be successful. India has been known for its culture and civilization, its ethical and dharmic way of life from time immemorial. India has marched ahead with its commitment to dharma, its resistance to adharma, its espousal of life-affirming values and its humane attitude to life as a journey towards God realization. Those who embodied these values in their life have been a beacon of light to us. Their impact is deep on the life we lead. Young boys and girls will find them exemplary and feel proud of their invaluable heritage. They will love their motherland and dedicate themselves to its service. It is therefore necessary that the young learn about these great men and women so that they will realize their indebtedness to them for their selfless contribution to the enrichment of life. This should indeed be a chief component of true education which ensures the perennial continuity of Indian culture and civilization. SRINIVASA BALA BHARATI SERIES has come into existence to acquaint the young boys and girls with right perspective of Indian life and values through a series of booklets written exclusively for this purpose describing in brief the lives of great men and women. We welcome you to share our joy in launching these booklets. S.B. Raghunathacharya Chief Editor INTRODUCTION Life is a bubble. Anything may happen the next moment. It is upredictable. Yet people on this earth devote all their attention and hanker after earning wealth and gold. Never do they realize that they are ruining their present life running after the uncertain future. Everything slips away by the time they understand the fact. But great people grasp the truth with the benevolence of god and enter into the glorifying light piercing through all ignorance. Such a miracle happened in the life of a miser. There was a diamond merchant in possession of massive wealth. Being begged by a poor Brahmin, he gave away alms. The Brahmin came back after a while and proposed to pawn a nose jewel for money. The rich man was stunned on seeing the nose jewel. It was his wife's ornament. He promised to pay money and made the Brahmin wait till his return. He went home and asked his wife about her nose jewel. Fearing the reactions of her husband, she did not tell that she gave it to a Brahmin and went into the room to take poison and die. Surprisingly the nose jewel appeared in the poison cup. The diamond merchant went to his business spot and found that the ornament was missing. He was puzzled. He realized it as the leela of god. All the material earnings, he thought, are of no value in front of god's grace. He gave away all his property, gold, earnings and money to the needy people. He became a strong devotee of God. Do you know who he is? He viii was Srinivasa Naidu who became popular for his wealth as "Navakoti Narayana". In his later life, he became a devoted disciple of Vyasaraya and composed lakhs of lyrics and got the title "Padakavitha pithamaha" of Karnataka. The devotion, sacrifice or material refusal of this oldest generation of Dasas should be our guide and model. - Chief Editor PURANDARA DASU - Father of Music Thus I recall the great deeds of One that ward off all evil mindedness By singing of Srihari and his charisma In utmost devotion and absolute dedication - Prahlada Bhakta Vijayam Thus praised Thyagaraju who got liberated through his adoration to music. His guru Vysarayalu praised Purandardasu as the best of all dasas or disciples. A guru praising a disciple is really a rarity. Of course, it is but natural that disciples praise their gurus. So Purandaradasu is a great person. Being the head of the team of disciples, winning the appreciation of the gurus, writing songs in Kannada, joining the group of vocalists who rendered a clear form to music, Purandaradasu accomplished the great title. "Karnataka Sangeetha Pitamaha" or the Grand Father of Carnatic system of music. CULTURE MALIGNED Purandaradasu was born at a time when the Indians culture was in crisis. The times witnessed many cultural clashes and religious contradictions. Some felt that the people were in the dark. Some argued strongly that they alone were in the right path. Some brave folk ventured to bring in a change. Common people followed whatever tradition or culture they liked. Only a few understood that ultimately truth sustains above all the different 2 3 approaches. Indian culture was put to a major damage movements revived the ancient Indian culture and paved during the reign of Mohammadans. Owing to the way to a golden future. There are no people without religious beliefs and feelings of the Muslims, Hinduism leaders. A true leader is one who understands the and its culture got geopardised. In such a scenario came feelings of the people and becomes one among them. Basaveshwara and founded Veerashivism. Some other In such context was born Purandara Dasu. writers in prose also contributed their might to revive SRINIVASA BECAME PURANDARA DASA the Indian culture and became successful. Purandara Dasa is not his real name. It is understood BLOOMING OF VAISHNAVA CULTURE he has many names. Srinivasa Nayaka, Sheenappa, At the same time, with the blessings of Vidyaranya Thirumala Rayappa, Thimmappa, Krishna Nayaka, Harihara Rayalu and Bukka Rayalu established Purandara Vithala etc. The most popular name is Vijayanagara empire. They took a strong vow to protect Srinivasa Nayaka the son of Varadappanayaka. and promote Hinduism, culture and civilization in the Srinivasanayaka left all his wealth and wedded to south. During the reign of Proudha Devarayalu and Sri poverty. Krishnadevarayalu Vaishnava cult gained prominence. Enchanting the name of the lord, he chose In the accomplished rule of the Vijayanagara empire in Vyasaraya as his patron. He got upadesha from the south, many pioneers did their best for the Vyasarayalu and with the sign of "Purandara Vithala" rejuvenation and renaissance of Hinduism.