The Songs (kritis) of Sri Purandara Dasa

Sri Purandara Dasa is a well-known Saint from Karnataka. He lived in the golden age of Karnataka-some 500 years ago- during the reign of emperor Sri Krishnadeva Raaya of the Vijayanagar empire.

Sri Purandara Dasa is the foremost member of the Haridasa movement and the recognized father of Carnatic music. He was inspired to change his merchant life to one of renunciation and Bhakthi by Lord Vittala Himself. Sri Purandara Dasa wrote thousands of songs (kritis) in Kannada (known as "Devaranaamas" in Kannada, literally "names of God") covering all aspects of life.

I am a Kannadiga, and to me the most remarkable thing about Sri Purandara Dasa's songs is that the Kannada he used 500 years ago is almost the language of today, His songs- at least the vast majority of them- are easily understood, although occasionally one may have to look up the meaning of some words. Sri Purandara Dasa's songs are indeed eternal and shall be remembered and sung for ever. Sometimes he does use words that are not easily understood, but this is rare. To me, he is like the father of the Kannada language.

The songs of Sri Purandara Dasa are sung with great devotion by so many non-Kannada speakers. I feel that the songs would be so much better appreciated if the meaning of the songs were known to them. Here in this blog I shall try to provide translation- as best as I can, and a little bit of commentary- of some of the most popular songs of Sri Purandara Dasa. Occasionally, I may include kritis authored by some of the other great Dasas of the Karnataka Bhakthi tradition.