Vijaya Dasa (Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಾಸ)(1682-1755) or Sri Vijaya Dasa was a prominent saint from the Haridasa tradition of Karnataka, India in the 18th century. Sri VijayaDasaru is an amsha of Sri Brighu Muni; the very same muni, who was the nimmita for the eternal kshetra Tirumala ! Sri Krishna himself in BG 10.25 says "maharsinam bhrgur aham". Thereby indicating his Vibhuti roopa as present in Brighu Muni. He is one of the most accomplished scholars belonging to the Dvaita philosophical tradition. Along with contemporary haridasa saints such as Gopala Dasa, Helevankatte Giriamma, Jagannath Dasa, Prasanna Venkata Dasa, Venugopala Dasa, Mohana Dasa and Kallur Subbanachar, he propagated the virtues of the philosophy of Madhwacharya across South India through devotional songs called Devaranama written in simple and lucid Kannada language. An integral part of Kannada Vaishnava devotional literature, these compositions in praise of Vishnu are called dasara padagalu (compositions of the dasas). These compositions can be more specifically categorized as keertanas, suladis,ugabhogas, and simply padas. They were easy to sing to the accompaniment of a musical instrument and dealt with bhakti (devotion) and the virtues of a pious life.
Early years
Vijaya was born in a poor Brahmin family in Cheekalaparvi in Manvi taluk of Raichur district, Karnataka state. His parents were Sri Srinivasappa and Kusamma. He left home at a young age and studied Sanskrit in Varanasi for four years. Later when his marriage was troubled by poverty, he went back to Varanasi where he became a scholar. Legend has it that the great Carnatic music composer and wandering saint of the 16th century, Purandara Dasa appeared in his dream, initiated him into the Haridasa tradition and gave him the nom de plume (ankita nama) Vijaya Vittala. As he slept one night in Kashi, he had a Divine Dream; Sri Purandara Dasaru escorted him from Kashi; crossed the Ganges to Vyasa Kashi. (VYASAKASHI IS 6KM FROM KASHI (ALSO CALLED BENARES OR VARANASI). Under the Ashwatt Vriksha, there was Sri Veda Vyasa looking resplendent and self shining holding Sabha with all the learned Sages. Sri Purandara Dasaru introduced Dasappa to Sri Veda Vyasa. Sri Veda Vyasa smiled pleasantly and asked Dasappa to stick his tongue out. Sri Veda Vyasa then wrote "Vijaya" on his tongue. This is the turning point for Dasappa who was now transformed to Sri Vijaya Dasaru. Sri Purnadara Dasaru escorted Sri VijayaDasaru back to Kashi and disappeared. Sri VijayaDasaru woke up from his dream; it was a surreal experience to say the least. He prepared for his morning bath, as soon as he entered the Ganga River for his daily ablutions, Sri VijayaDasaru realized it was no ordinary dream. Sri VijayDasaru was chanting Sanskrit mantras with the force of Ganga (Ganga Pravaha). From that day he was called Vijaya Dasa (dasa means slave to God).[1]
His compositions
Considered second only to Purandara Dasa, his 25,000 compositions earned him the title Dasa Shrestadasas). His compositions which comprise of use of many Sanskrit words come under the category of Kalasha and Urasu creations and are considered an important component of Kannada literatureSahitya). One distinct feature of his compositions is that he has explained the historical importance of many kshetras for which there was no information. Ghatikachala Suladi is one such example where he has narrated the historic story or sthala purana of the place. He has clearly shown his miracles clearly after aparoksha including resurrection, making a uneducated man speak difficult Sanskrit proficiently, etc. Sri Hari himself on many occasions has shown that he clearly favors Vijaya Dasaru. Once Sri Vijaydasaru was mistreated in Tirumala, to rectify this; Sri Hari stopped the Brahmotsava chariot from moving. Sri Hari himself took the form of a Vatu (young brahmin boy) and mentioned the reason; when Sri VijayDasaru heard that the ratha had stopped, he composed a song. The ratha sped on its own towards VijayDasaru, the authorities apologized to Sri VijayDasaru and begged his forgiveness. He died at the age of 79, leaving behind such accomplished disciples as Gopala Dasa and Jagannatha Dasa to carry the message of peace and devotion to Hari.[4] Tradition has it that it was the haridasas who initiated the practice of singing devotional songs while walking up the Tirumala hills in modern Andhra Pradesh. These hills are the abode of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, one of the most important pilgrim locations for Vaishnava Hindus.[5] The fundamental values contained in these compositions was the true relationship between people, need for tolerance, a better understanding of the value of a non-materialistic life and true devotion to God. With this objective, Vijaya Dasa and other haridasas tried to purge religion of its hypocrisies and obscurantism, its insularity and exclusiveness.[6] (noble among the (Kannada
Anecdotes
Vijaya Dasa visited Kashi on the banks of the Ganges river, the river was in spate. Unperturbed, Vijaya Dasa sat in penance on the turbulent waves without getting wet. Once he prevented a woman from committing suicide and took care of the woman and her child. The child Mohana who grew up as Vijaya Dasa's student became one of the most important saints of the Haridasa tradition of 18th century, wrote many compositions in Kannada language and went by the name Mohana Dasa and the nom de plume Mohana Vittala.
ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ
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