Purandar Das Biography In English
- Purandara Dasa was a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhavacharya’s dual philosophy. He was a composer, singer and one of the main founder-proponents of Carnatic music.
- In recognition of his significant contribution to Carnatic music, he is widely known as Pitamah (literally “father” or “grandfather”) of Carnatic music. According to a legend, he is believed to be an incarnation of Sage Narada.
- Purandara Dasa was a wealthy merchant of gold, silver and other miscellaneous ornaments from Karnataka, who gave up all his material wealth to become Haridasa, a devotional singer who composed difficult Sanskrit doctrines.
- Purandara Das is best known for composing Dasa literature as a Bhakti movement singer and music scholar. His practice was emulated by his younger contemporary Kanakadas.
Birth Details –
Place- Pune, Maharashtra State
Date of Birth – 1470
Marital Status: Married
Nationality -Indian
Family –
Mother – Rukmini
Father- Varadappa Nayak
Wife – Saraswati Bai
Early Life
- Epigraphical evidence suggests that Purandara Dasa was born in a Kannada Deshastha Madhava Brahmin family to a diamond merchant, in 1470 AD at Purandara Gada, 18 km from Pune in present-day Maharashtra state.
- Purandara Das was the only son of the wealthy merchant Varadappa Nayaka and his wife Rukmini.
- He was named Srinivasa Nayaka after the presiding deity of the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. He acquired proficiency in Kannada, Sanskrit and sacred music through education.
- At the age of 16, he was married to Saraswati Bai, who is traditionally described as a chaste young girl.
- He lost his parents at the age of 20, leaving him to inherit his father’s gems and pawn business.
Influence on Carnatic Music
- Purandara Das systematized the method of teaching Carnatic music that has survived to this day. He introduced raga Mayamalavagaula as the basic scale of musical instruction and produced a series of classified texts such as Swaravali, Janti Swara, Alankara, Lakshana Gita, Prabandha, Ugabhog, Datu Varse, Gita, Sooladi and Kriti.
- He introduced folk ragas into the mainstream, setting his songs in the ragas of his time so that even a common man could learn and sing them.
- He also composed many Lakshya and Lakshan Gita, many of which are sung even today. His Sooladis are considered musical masterpieces and are the standard for Raga Lakshana. Scholars attribute the standardization of varna mettas entirely to Purandara Dasa.
Other Information –
Date of death – 2 January 1565
Place – Vijayanagara, Karnataka, India
Question Related to Purandar Dasa
What is the birth place and date of birth of Purandar Das?
Purandar Das was born in 1470, – in Pune, Maharashtra State.
What was the name of the father and mother of Purandar Das?
Purandar Das’s father’s name was Vardappa Nayak and mother’s name was Saraswati Bai.
What was the name of Purandar Das’s wife?
Purandar Das’s wife’s name was Saraswati Bai.
When did Purandar Das die and at what place?
Purandara Dasa died on 2 January 1565 in Vijayanagara, Karnataka, India.
