Purandara Dasa

Purandara Dasa ಪುರಂದರ ದಾಸ
Father of Carnatic Music
Background information
Native name	ಪುರಂದರ ದಾಸ
Birth name	Srinivasa Nayaka ‌ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ನಾಯಕ
Born	1484 Kshemapura, near Tirthahalli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka
Origin	Kshemapura, Shivamogga, Karnataka state, India
Died	1564 Hampi, Karnataka state, India
Genres	Carnatic music
Occupation(s)	Carnatic vocalist, instrumentalist

Purandara Dāsa (Kannada: ಪುರಂದರ ದಾಸ) (1484–1564) was a composer, singer and one of the chief proponents of the South Indian classical music (Carnatic Music). In honor of his significant and legendary contributions to Carnatic Music, he is widely referred to as the Pitamaha (lit, "father" or the "grandfather") of Carnatic Music.

He was a wealthy diamond merchant from Karnataka, who gave away all his material riches to become a Hindu monk (Vaishnavism), religious devotional singer and one of the most important music scholars of medieval India. He formulated the basic lessons of teaching Carnatic music by structuring graded exercises known as Svaravalis and Alankaras, and at the same time, he introduced the Raga Mayamalavagowla as the first scale to be learnt by beginners in the field - a practice that is being followed till date. He also composed Gitas (simple songs) for novice students.

Purandara Dasa is noted for composing Dasa Sahithya, as a Bhakti movement vocalist, and a music scholar. His practice was emulated by his younger contemporary, Kanakadasa. Purandara Dasa's Carnatic music compositions are mostly in Kannada; some are in Sanskrit. He signed his compositions with the ankita (pen name), "Purandara Vittala" (Vittala is one of the incarnations of the Hindu god, Vishnu).

Inscriptional evidence suggests Purandara Dasa was born in 1484 CE in Kshemapura, near Tirthahalli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka state. According to other opinions, his native town was Purandaraghatta in Karnataka, or Purandaragad near Pune, but the latter is considered a historical mistake - connecting his "pen name" (his ankita) with a location that mainly served as a military encampment in the 15th and 16th century. The only son of Varadappa Nayaka, a wealthy merchant, and Leelavati, he was named Srinivasa Nayaka, after the Lord of the Seven Hills. He received a good education in accordance with family traditions and acquired proficiency in Kannada, Sanskrit, and sacred music. At age 16 he married Saraswatibai, said by tradition to have been a pious young girl. He lost his parents at age 20, thereby inheriting his father's business of gemstones and pawning. He prospered and became known as navakoti narayana(abundantly rich man; owner of nine crores).