source-By Ms Sarah Welch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
Those who are familiar with the Carnatic music of South India will be familiar with the name Purandara Dasa. I will write in brief the story of this saint who was once a very wealthy merchant but donated everything he had and spent his life singing and teaching songs in praise of the Lord.
Purandara Dasa popularised Carnatic music by forming Geetas and Varnas which helped even the common person to learn it very easily.
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The above video is an example of a music lesson as initiated by the saint Purandara Dasa.
I remember studying the above when I first attended music classes as a ten-year-old. In fact, all music students are taught these before entering the difficult world of raaga and keerthanas.
Coming back to Purandara Dasa, he was born to a wealthy trader and was leading a luxurious life. He was known to be a miserly person who held dear his wealth and belongings.
One day, he was approached by a poor Brahmin for help. People usually gave gifts to Brahmins as they did not have any option to lead a comfortable lifestyle and were always in need of money. So, refusing to gift the Brahmin money, Srinivasa as he was known before being a saint, went home and told his wife about it. His wife was very pious and felt bad. The Brahmin visited Srinivasa four times and got refused. So, he approached his wife for help. She wanted to help him but did not have any money. Therefore, she gave him her nose ring which was made of diamond. The brahmin approached Srinivasa and sold him the ring. Srinivasa knew that the brahmin did not know the real value so gave him a small amount of money and sent him off. He also sent a servant to follow him. The servant saw the brahmin walk into the temple and disappear.
Meanwhile, Srinivasa suspected that this was his wife's nose ring and rushed to his house to ask his wife. His wife was trembling with fear and prayed to the lord to help her. When her husband asked her to bring her nose ring, she was baffled to see the same nose ring in her jewel box. Srinivasa rushed back to the shop and searched for the ring but it had disappeared.
he went back to his house and his wife told him the whole story of how he had helped the poor brahmin. Also remembering that the brahmin had disappeared into the altar, Srinivasa now realized that the poor brahmin was none other than the Lord himself who had come to teach him the futility of the material life.
Srinivasa gave up all his belongings as charity and walked away with his family and sang in praise of the lord. He was given the name Purandara Dasa and is said to be the father of Carnatic music.
Amar Chitra Katha has published a picture storybook in his name. It can be purchased from Amazon.
I hope you enjoyed reading about this holy Saint who also supported gender equality and the abolishment of social stigmas.
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