Gopala Dasaru and Haridasa Movement – Part 1

P.S: Gopala Dasara Aaradhane – Jan 14th Saturday USA, Jan 15th India

Bha – Endu Valisalu Bhakuti Puttisuvanu Sriyarasa Padadali

Ga – Enduccarisalu Gangajanaka Bhavatoyadim Tadigottuva

Nna – Endupasane Maduva Sujanara Kayaklesava Kaledu |

Composed By Sri Varada Gopala Vithala Dasaru ( Gopala Dasaru’s brother)

ಭಾ – ಎಂದು ವಲಿಸಲು ಭಕುತಿ ಪುಟ್ಟಿಸುವನು ಶ್ರೀಯರಸ ಪಾದದಲಿ
ಗ – ಎಂದುಚ್ಚರಿಸಲು ಗಂಗಾಜನಕ ಭವತೋಯದಿಂ ತಡಿಗೊತ್ತುವ
ಣ್ಣ – ಎಂದುಪಾಸನೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಸುಜನರ ಕಾಯಕ್ಲೇಶವ ಕಳೆದು ||

A second one:

ಗೋಪಪ್ರಕರಸಂಕಾಶಂ ಗೋಪಾಲಾರ್ಚನ ತತ್ಪರಂ |

ಗೋದೇವ ವಂದ್ಯಪಾದಾಬ್ಜಂ ಗೋಪಾಲಾಖ್ಯ ಗುರುಂ ಭಜೇ ||

Gopaprakarasankasam Gopalarcana Tatparam |

Godeva Vandyapadabjam Gopalakhya Gurum Bhaje ||

Reference : Samagra Dasa Sahitya vol12

Shri Purandara Dasara’s time was the golden age of Dasa Sahitya.

The services rendered by Purandara dasaru and Kanaka dasaru to the fields of music and literature of Karnataka are memorable and unmatched. After them Dasa Sahitya took the path of decline. With the fall of Vijayanagara empire this literature also lost its vibrancy. 

Around 1687, Haridasa literature was revived by Vijaya dasaru, and the second phase of Haridasa literature began. The motivation of Sri Raghavendra Gurugalu of Mantralaya was instrumental. Vijaya dasaru became famous as the Mahatma who revived the Dasa tradition. His most important disciple was Gopala dasaru.

Gopala dasaru is one of the noblemen who is hailed as the pillars of the Haridasa legacy. Dasa Sahitya in the first phase was popularized by Purandara Dasaru-Kanaka dasaru later Vijaya dasaru, Gopala dasaru and Jagannatha dasaru took lead in the second phase. 

Gopala Dasaru composed works in three genres namely Kirtana, Ugabhoga and Suladi. There are 183 Kirtana’s in the book I have referenced here. A small kirtana with only three words and a large kirtana with thirty words can be found in his compositions. Ugabhoga are few in number. The philosophical proposition that he has expressed in Suladi and Ugabhogas is worth noting. He was the one who enriched the Haridasa literature by using music lyrics in equal measure.

To be continued ……

Bhaganna Becomes Gopala Dasaru – Part 2

All details about Sri Gopala Dasaru and his compositions : https://meerasubbarao.wordpress.com/category/sri-madhwacharya/sri-gopala-dasaru/