SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ INTRODUCTION – LEAF 2

INTRODUCTION – LEAF 2

LITERARY WORKS OF SRI JAGANNATHA DASARU (ಶ್ರೀ ಜಗನ್ನಾಥದಾಸರ ಕೃತಿಗಳ ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತ ದರ್ಶನ)

Unfortunately, there are no documents to exactly determine or know the number of compositions or books written by Sri Jagannatha Dasaru. Apart from Sri Harikathamrutasara, a lengthy poetic extravaganza comprising 988 stanzas in Bhamini Shatpadi (ಭಾಮಿನೀ ಷಟ್ಪದಿ) pattern, it is believed that Sri Jagannatha Dasaru has left about 195 Keertanas, two Ugabhogas (ಉಗಾಭೋಗಗಳು) , three Suladis (ಸುಳಾದಿಗಳು) and 413 Tatva Suvvalis (ತತ್ತ್ವ ಸುವ್ವಾಲಿಗಳು) to this world. In addition, he is credited with the composition of Sri Varadendra Panchashlokee (ಶ್ರೀ ವರದೇಂದ್ರ ಪಂಚಶ್ಲೋಕೀ) and Sri Satyabodha Panchashlokee (ಸತ್ಯಬೋಧ ಪಂಚಶ್ಲೋಕೀ) in Sanskrit, which date back to his pre-Dasa Deeksha days. He has written “Phalashruti” (ಫಲಶ್ರುತಿ) to “Madhwanama” (ಮಧ್ವನಾಮ) written by Sri Sripadarajaru in Kannada. There are many Keertanas, Gurustuti (ಗುರುಸ್ತುತಿ) , Devatastuti (ದೇವಸ್ತುತಿ), Paramatmastuti (ಪರಮಾತ್ಮಸ್ತುತಿ), Description of Pilgrim Centres (ತೀರ್ಥಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ವರ್ಣನೆ) and some compositions under the title Upadeshaparatatvika Padagalu (ಉಪದೇಶಪರ ತಾತ್ತ್ವಿಕ ಪದಗಳು) in the name of Sri Jagannatha Dasaru.

Description of the original form or appearance of Lord Sri Hari, the appearance of Sri Nrusihma and other incarnations of Lord Vishnu, description of different incarnations of Lord Hari found in the form of idols, statues or images in some of the most popular pilgrim places and explanation of the attributes of Lord Hari are the highlight and special features of the works of Sri Jagannatha Dasaru. There are numerous compositions and descriptions of the Lord in prose form which are like brilliant research works due to the extravagant references and citations. For instance, in his 73-statement-long work in Kannada “Aa namipe Sri Brahma vAyuvANi BhArati muKhyaravatAra AvEshakAnamipe” (ಆ ನಮಿಪೆ ಶ್ರೀಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ವಾಯುವಾಣಿ ಭಾರತಿ ಮುಖ್ಯರವತಾರ ಆವೇಶಕಾನಮಿಪೆ) dwells extensively on the differences among deities, incarnations and forms of Lord that are manifestations of certain power of the Lord. He has composed many Stotras in praise and significance of some brilliant, extraordinary lineage of Seers of Mutts, Sri Madhwacharyaru, Sri Jayatirtharu, Sri Vadirajaru, Sri Purandara Dasaru, Sri Vijaya Dasaru, Sri Krishnadwaipayana Tirtharu, Sri Raghavendra Tirtharu, Sri Varadendra Tirtharu, Sri Satyabodharu, Sri Bhuvanendraru, Sri Vasudhendraru and Sri Satyavara  Tirtharu are categorised as Gurustotras. Another compostion that reads as “BhAgeeraThyAdi nadigaLa tAratamya nija BhAgavata tilaka nimirAjagolidu VasiShThayOgeesha pELe sukaThA kutUhalavanurAgadali kELi janarayyA..” (ಬಾಗೀರಥ್ಯಾದಿ ನದಿಗಳ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ ನಿಜ ಭಾಗವತ ತಿಲಕ ನಿಮಿರಾಜಗೊಲಿದು ವಸಿಷ್ಠಯೋಗೀಶ ಪೇಳೆ ಸುಕಥಾ ಕುತೂಹಲವನುರಾಗದಲಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಜನರಯ್ಯಾ) deals with the discriminaion or difference that exists among sacred rivers.  One more composition “Smarisi teerthakShEtra  sajjanaru nityadali aruNOdayakAladaleddu BhaktipUrvakavAgi shravaNa mALpara pAparAshigaLa pariharisutta santaisuve…” (ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿ ತೀರ್ಥಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಸಜ್ಜನರು ನಿತ್ಯದಲಿ ಅರುಣೋದಯದಲೆದ್ದು ಭಕ್ತಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಶ್ರವಣ ಮಾಳ್ಪರ ಪಾಪರಾಶಿಗಳ ಪರಿಹರಿಸುತ್ತ ಸನ್ತೈಸುವ..” lists out the names of holy places.

What these compositions achieve or provide humanity with is that they not only please the readers with their exemplary literary values, didactic nature, elegant expression and picturesque descriptions but also instil and promote devotion for the deities they relate to.

Sri Jagannatha Dasaru never deviates from Holy Scriptures in his compositions. On the contrary, they explain in plain dictum the hidden meanings of Shastras. In “Siri ramaNa tava charaNa dorakuvudu hyAnginnu parama pApiShTha nAnu…” (ಶ್ರೀ ರಮಣ ತವ ಚರಣ ದೊರಕುವುದು ಹ್ಯಾಂಗಿನ್ನು ಪರಮ ಪಾಪಿಷ್ಠ ನಾನು) he enlists the sins that every human being commits with or without knowledge.

Because of space constraint, the second part of this episode will be served later. SDN