Hampi - The Land of Carnatic Music!

Welcome to Hampi! The land of Carnatic Music!

Today iam going to introduce you all to the most beautiful composition of Sri Purandara Dasa.
Sri Purandara Dasa (Kannada: ಪುರಂದರ ದಾಸರು;  Purandara Dasa (c. 1484 – c. 1565) was an Indian philosopher and a renowned composer of Carnatic music).
He is popularly called as Sangeeta Pitamaha – Grand Father / Father of Indian Carnatic Music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purandara_Dasa

This Sangeetha Pitamaha wrote 4,75,000 Keerthanams both in Sanskrit and Kannada. 

Born in Shivamogga/Shimoga Karnataka, Purandara Dasa was a Vaishnava Poet and Music Composer.

During his time with the support of the then powerful King Sri Krishnadevaraya who ruled Vijayanagara Empire - Sri Purandara Dasa setforth the foundation for Indian Carnatic Music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnadevaraya

Sri Purandara Dasa wrote many Keerthanams praising Lord Vishnu. His Keerthanams were mainly dedicated to:

1. Lord Vitthala (another name of Lord Vishnu) located at Vitthala Swamy temple at Hampi in the present day Karnataka.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampi#Vitthala_temple_and_market_complex

2. Lord  Srinivasa Located at  Tirupati Tirulama Temple. Infact Purandara Dasa’s statue is found at the base of Tirupati Tirumala Hills in the present day Andhra Pradesh.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venkateswara_Temple,_Tirumala

 
3. Lord Vishnu located at the Vitthalanatha temple at Pandharapura on the bank of the river Bhima in the present day Maharashtra.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vithoba_Temple

The Musical Hall at Hampi is one of the places where Sri Purandara Dasa sat and wrote Keerthanams and composed Music. Stones that are Magical and Musical.

Some Photos are borrowed from Hampi Tourism website and some photos were clicked during my visit to Hampi in 2017.

The Musical Hall/Ranga Mantapa!

The above Ranga Mantapa has 56 musical pillars. These pillars are also known as SaReGaMa pillars.The musical notes can be heard when the pillars are gently tapped.

Each of the 56 main pillar is wrapped by 7 minor pillars and these minor pillars emit different musical notes. SA,RI,GA,MA,PA,DHA,NI.

So totally there are more than 100 Musical Pillars.

Hampi was ruined by Muslim Sultanates, however it is BEAUTIFUL even today as a 

LOST  CITY with full of culture and heritage.

 A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CENTER.  

This is the place I simply love. Spirituality in Music is found in every stone here.

If you tap any abandoned stone, you will hear a particular musical note.

At Hampi in 2017.

One of the spots inside the temple where Sri Purandara Dasa sat and composed music.

This chariot shrine is dedicated to Garuda.

You can find Garuda housed inside the sanctum of this Chariot.

The trend setter or we can  call him a Trailblazer of the Indian Carnatic Music.
Essence of the Vedas are found in every Keerthanam that is written by Sri Purandara Dasa.

The pyramid shaped Mahanavami Dhibba - A stone platform raised to a height of 8 Mts where the Royal Family sat to witness Purandara Dasa's Music and Songs.
Iam sitting on Sri Krishnadevaraya's seat -  The Royal Enclosure.

2017!

Sri Purandara Dasa was a Vaishnava. When a lot of tongues wagged Purandara  Dasa as being a Vaishnava who will never be able to Praise Lord Hara/Shiva, Purandara dasa wrote a Keerthanam dedicated to Lord Shiva.

This Keerthanam touches every aspect of Spirituality.
This Keerthanam reveals that God is one despite being worshipped in different forms.

Karnataka is my HOME.

To all my Prana Priya kannadigas, here iam presenting you all a Kannada Keerthanam.

Ragam : Darbari Kanada.

Darbari Kanada was a Ragam that was introduced by Sri Purandara Dasa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darbari_Kanada

Talam : Aadi

Composer : Purandara Dasar

Language : Kannada.

There is a Divine Line in the second part of the Keerthanam that gives a Spiritual message to everyone.

"Koralali Bhasma Rudhrakshava Dharisida, Parama Vaishnava Nine"

A Parama Vaishnava is the beloved (Prana Priya) of Maha Vishnu. To become a Parama Vaishnava one has to wear ashes on his/her body, wear Rudraksha Mala and praise Lord Hara.

Part 1:

Part 2:

There is a story behind this Keerthanam. Lord Shiva was very curious about Raas Lila, one day 
he came disguised as a GOPI (female) to Vrindavan where Maha Raas Lila was happening. Lord Krishna who understood the trick of Lord Shiva made Lord Shiva sit at the entrance of Vrindavan and told him that - "Only the ones who are permitted by her (Lord Shiva) can do Raas Lila with Lord Krishna".

The same Keerthanam with Western Instrumental + Classical Instrumental.

The Original - Pure Classical version sung at Hampi and Tirupati Tirumala Temple every year in the month of Feb-March during the Purandara Dasa Aradhana Mahotsavam in the evening. This Ragam has to be sung only in the evening-night!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purandaradasa_Aradhana

Imagine that if we could bring all the Keerthanams of Sri Purandara Dasa to present generation!

The world will change!