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Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024: Celebrating the Legacy of a Visionary Poet-Saint and His Eternal Teachings
Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024: Everything you need to know about history and wishes
Kanakadasa Jayanti celebrated in Karnataka on November 18 is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of poet and social reformer Shri Kanakadasa. An important figure in Carnatic music, he promoted social equality and spirituality through his devotional works in Kannada.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024 falls on the 18th day of the Karthika month.
Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024 , a public holiday in Karnataka, is being observed on Monday, November 18 this year. The day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of renowned poet and social reformer Shri Kanakadasa and is observed by the Government of Karnataka.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024 falls on the 18th day of the Karthika month. A prominent figure in Carnatic music, Shri Kanakadasa was a talented poet, musician and social reformer.
His contributions to Carnatic music and his influence on the tradition are widely recognized, and he is remembered for his efforts to promote social equality and spirituality through his writings and compositions.
History
Kanakadasa (1509–1606) was a revered saint, poet, philosopher, and one of the greatest devotees of Lord Krishna (Vishnu) from Karnataka, India. He followed the Dvaita Vedanta philosophy of Madhvacharya and was a disciple of the renowned scholar and saint Vyasatirtha.
Kanakadasa is often referred to as Dasashreshtha Kanakadasa, meaning the greatest of devotees, and he is best known for his devotional compositions in Kannada, including kirtanas (hymns) and ugabhogas (songs), which became an integral part of Carnatic music. His works expressed deep devotion to Lord Krishna and emphasized simplicity, accessibility, and spirituality.
Contributions
Kanakadasa’s devotion was expressed through his simple but profound Kannada compositions, which broke away from the traditional norms of high Sanskrit and connected directly with the people. He composed hymns celebrating the glory of Lord Krishna and highlighted social issues such as the importance of humility, devotion and social justice.
Kanakadasa’s music and poetry focused on themes of devotion to Lord Krishna, promoting love and equality among all people irrespective of caste or social status. His compositions were also strongly critical of the rigid caste system and other social injustices of the time, challenging the social hierarchy by focusing on devotion and inner purity.
He is particularly remembered for the kirtanas (devotional songs) and ugabhogas (spontaneous lyrical compositions) he composed for Carnatic music, many of which remain popular in classical music traditions even today.
Spiritual transformation
A pivotal moment in Kanakadasa’s life came when he was wounded in battle. To get relief from his pain, he started chanting the name of Lord Hari (Krishna), so that he could find peace.
The legend of Kanakadasa and the “Kanaka Dwara”
One of the most famous stories associated with Kanakadasa is connected to his devotion to Lord Krishna. It is said that when Kanakadasa went to Krishna’s temple in Udupi, he was not allowed to enter due to his low caste. Deeply saddened, Kanakadasa sat outside the temple and composed a devotional song. Moved by his unwavering devotion, Lord Krishna is said to have turned the idol around so that Kanakadasa could have a glimpse of the deity. This moment is considered a symbol of divine grace and equality for all, regardless of caste.
Philosophy and influences
Kanakadasa’s philosophical outlook was influenced by Madhvacharya’s Dvaita Vedanta, which emphasizes duality between the individual soul (Atman) and the supreme soul (Brahman, or Vishnu). His teachings focused on the importance of devotion to God, the need for humility
!! Happy Kanakadasa Jayanti 2024 !!