Sri Jagannatha Dasaru

(1728AD – 1809AD)

Seva by: V.Prabhakar Rao

Singapore June 7th 2008
Let me commence my write up on this sacred Dasaru, with a Pranam to my Guru Rayaru Sri Raghavendra
Theertharu.

Guru Raghavendra Rayaru had a big role in Jagannatha Dasaru’s life, steering him, guiding him and
blessing him at key turning points.

Amongst the major Haridasas, Jagannatha Dasaru has composed the maximum number of songs on
Rayaru.

We will be seeing in the later slides that when he was suffering from a stomach ailment for slighting Sri
Vijaya Dasaru, it was Rayaru who guided him on what he needed to do and thus saved his life. After
composing Harikathamruthasara he went to Mantralaya to submit this to Rayaru. Rayaru is supposed to
have come out from the brindAvana to bless him. He has captured this very eloquently in a song (“yeddu
barutAre noDe ..”).
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Born in a pious Brahmin family, he was given the name of
Srinivasa. Even at a young age his brilliance was very evident and
he was commended by Sri Vageesha Theertharu, the then Pontiff at
Mantralaya. He grew up to be a very great scholar, very well versed
in all the great Dvaita works. He was called Srinivasa Acharya due
to his erudition and knowledge.

Unfortunately, he also grew very proud and developed an intense

dislike for Haridasas

Sri Vijaya Dasaru was the foremost Haridasa of those times. And
Srinivasa Acharya even mocked at Sri Vijaya Dasaru with “Kannada
pada heluva aa kusi maganenu dasanaguttane“, meaning "How can
that son of kusi(name of Sri Vijaya Dasa's Mother), who sings
kannada songs be a scholar?".
Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
The birth town of Sri Jagannatha Dasaru

Manvi
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Once Sri Vijaya Dasaru happens to visit his village. The people of
the village accord Sri Vijaya Dasaru all respects and make all
arrangements for his puja, bhajan, pravachana etc. But Srinivasa
Acharya remains indifferent to Dasaru.

Sri Vijaya Dasaru even personally invites him to the puja but
Srinivasa Acharya cold shoulders it. Later Sri Vijaya Dasaru sends
his disciples to invite Srinivasa Acharya to partake in the bhojana
prasada. But Srinivasa Acharya responds haughtily that he will
have stomach pains if he eats late and so has already had his food.
Sri Vijaya Dasaru says “let it be” and continues with his rituals. But
from then on Srinivasa Acharya gets afflicted with serious stomach
ailment.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
All medical help that Srinivasa Acharya seeks to cure his ailment does not
yield any result. He turns to Lord Srinivasa in Tirupathi but Lord Srinivasa
too does not show any mercy to him. He then goes to Mantralaya and prays
Raghavendra Guru. Even Guru Rayaru remains silent.
By this time he becomes extremely weak and sapped of energy. In
desperation Srinivasa Acharya contemplates committing suicide. And then
the merciful Guru Raghavendra appears in his dream and advises him that
the Bhagavatha apachara that he committed has resulted in this illness.
Further he tells him that it will not be cured by Lord Hari, Vayu & himself
(Rayaru) and that it will be cured only by Vijaya Dasaru (whom he had
offended). Rayaru instructs him to go to Sri Vijaya Dasaru forthwith and
seek his mercy. Rayaru also tells him that he is destined to do great seva to
Lord Hari and he will be known throughout the world for his contribution to
society.
When Srinivasa Acharya woke up from the dream he was stunned to see
manthrakshatha prasada in his hands.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Srinivasa Acharya felt extremely joyful that he has been
blessed by Gururajaru. He realises he has turned a new
leaf in his life. In his heart he seeks the pardon of Sri
Vijaya Dasaru. Spends some more time in Mantralaya
doing seva to Raghavendra Guru, picks up some strength
and goes to the town where Sri Vijaya Dasaru was. When
Srinivasa Acharya saw Vijaya Dasaru he simply fell at his
feet. He prayed to Dasaru saying “Gubbi mele
brahmasthrave” (why use a Brahmasthra on a small
sparrow?)

Vijaya Dasaru blesses him and sends him to his disciple

Gopala Dasaru. He mentions to Srinivasa Acharya that Vijaya Dasaru
Gopala Dasaru will be his Guru ...... through him his
illness will be cured ........ he will receive Gnana and fame
as a Haridasa.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)

Srinivasa Acharya went by foot to the village of

Uththanur, located Gopala Dasaru and took refuge with
him, seeking his forgiveness and acceptance.

Gopala Dasaru cured him of his ailment by giving him

specially blessed prasada. From that day Srinivasa
Acharya’s stomach pain ceased.

Srinivasa Acharya went to Tirupathi along with Gopala

Dasaru and his retinue. There a miracle took place.
Gopala Dasaru
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
In Tirupathi one day the weakness in his body
and the strain of travel to Tirupathi took their toll
on Srinivasa Acharya and his life came to a halt.
His breathing had stopped.
Gopala Dasaru who was singing in the
Venkatesa’s brahmotsava at that very moment
felt something amiss and immediately rushed
over to the place where Srinivasa Acharya and
the entourage were staying. He saw what had
happened and felt very sad. It was then that Sri
Vijaya Dasaru appeared before him in his
sukshma sarira and advised him to sacrifice 40
years of his life to Srinivasa Acharya. Without
any hesitation Gopala Dasaru recites appropriate
manthras and undertakes necessary rituals to
donate 40 years of his life to Srinivasa acharya.
And Srinivasa acharya woke up as if from deep
sleep. This miracle happened in the year 1691.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Srinivasa Acharya requests his Guru Gopala Dasaru to
bless him to become a Haridasa. Gopala Dasaru
instructs him to go to Pandaripura and tells him that he
will receive his ankitha there in the Chandrabagha
river.
Srinivasa Acharya immediately set off for Pandaripura
and his mind was so fixed on reaching the holy
destination that he had lost all sense of his bodily
needs. From the village just before his destination he
started doing “hejje namaskara” till he reached
Pandaripura. When he took a dip in the Chandrabhaga
river he found a flat stone reaching his hands and
when brought it up he saw the words “Jagannatha
Vittala” written on it. He realised that this was to be his
ankitha (signature) given to him by Pandarinatha’s
Grace through his Guru’s blessings. That is when he
became Jagannatha Dasaru and all his devarunamas
and Gurubhakthi sahityas carry this ankitha.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Jagannatha Dasaru started singing his devarunamas
right there in Pandaripura, inspired by the vision he
had of Panduranga, as already predicted by his Guru
Gopala Dasaru. His famous compositions “Kande
Pandari Rayana” was out of the bliss he felt receiving
the grace of Lord Panduranga. While in Pandaripura he
had the unique blessing of being invited to bhojana by
Lord Panduranga incognito and personally served by
him. And the Lord also gave him thulasimala and
prasada in a bundle.

Thus Jagannatha Dasaru had the extraordinary

blessing of being fed in person by Lord Srinivasa while
in Tirupathi and by Lord Panduranga in Pandaripura. Is
it any surprise that it was he who composed the
famous magnum opus “Hari Kathamruthasara”!
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
On his way back from Pandaripura, Jagannatha Dasaru
had the darshan of Sri Jayatheertharu at Malked and
Sri Raghavendra Guru Rayaru at Mantralaya before
reaching the place of Gopala Dasaru.

Gopala Dasaru advised him to begin his service to

society by upholding bhagavatha dharma through his
compositions and works. He blessed him that the
Grace of Sri Vijaya Dasaru will be fully behind him in
his endeavours and his own blessings. Per his advice
Jagannatha Dasaru goes to call upon Sri Vijaya Dasaru
and when he sees him he starts worshipping him
singing “Rathina dhorakithalla enage rathina
dhorakithalla” meaning he found a very rare and divine
gem called Vijaya Dasaru. After receiving Vijaya
Dasaru’s blessings to commence his life as a Haridasa
Jagannatha Dasaru reached Manvi. The people of
Manvi were verily surprised at the transformation in
their Srinivasa Acharya who had become Jagannatha
Dasaru.
Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)

Ack: www.vijayadasaru.net
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Harikathamruthasara
Harikathamruthasara is probably the greatest
contribution of Jagannatha Dasaru to the society
at large. It is considered the quintessence of
dvaita philosophy. The fact that Jagannatha
Dasaru could write this phenominal work at the
ripe age of 80 with all the frailties of his health is a
great commentary on his intense devotion to
God. As a grand old man, Jagannatha Dasaru for
hours together sat with a pillar as the support to
his back while writing this divine work. This pillar
is even today being worshipped by devotees.
It is said that the eyelids of this 80 year old
Dasaru used to droop while writing this epic and
his disciples used to physically hold up the
eyelids.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Harikathamruthasara

This magnum Opus has been written in the form

of a beautiful poetry in the Bhamini Shatpadhi
meter. 32 cantos composed by Jagannatha
Dasaru and one canto (the Phala Stuthi) is by his
disciple Karjigi Dasaru (ankitha Sridha Vittala).

It is a mine of information on Madhva theology and

is honored as a great authority and standard work
of reference, by adherents of Dasa Koota.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Harikathamruthasara
When Jagannatha Dasaru went to
Mantralayam and presented this
great work at the feet of the Rayaru’s
Brindavana, it is said that Rayaru
physically appeared before Dasaru
and blessed him and his epic work.

It is said that Jagannatha Dasaru is

an avathara of Sahlada, the younger
brother of the great Haribhaktha
Prahlada (whose avathara is Guru
Raghavendra Theertharu)
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)

On the same Bhadrapada Shukla Navami, exactly 40 years

after his rebirth at Tirupathi, Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
reached the Lord's lotus feet.

In Manvi, the house where he used to live has become a

place of worship.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)

Sri Pranesha Dasaru & Sri Karjigi Dasaru were two of his
prime disciples

Sri Karjigi Dasaru has written the canto “Phalastuthi” in

the Harikathamruthasara

Sri Pranesha Dasaru in his dasapadha “Rayara nodire

dasarayara nodire maayaramanapriya ivara manadholage sulitha
Srirangavolidha” lists the five avatharas of Sahlada the fifth
one being Jagannatha Dasaru.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)

My wife & self want to dedicate this piece of work to our good friends
Ravi/Parimala & Raghav, but for whose satsangh we might not have had the
motivation and trigger to search and study sources of info on these Dasaru’s
life histories, their works and their teachings etc.
Our Guru Rayaru keeps sending us his catalysts, to nudge us on our
sanmarga, as evidenced by the number of Bhagavathas and Satsangh friends
we have had the privilege of coming across over the past ten years or more.

As always, I thank my wife for her great partnership in this journey and for her
steadfast & cheerful support to everyone of my endeavours, at times even
doing proof reading sleepy eyed at two O’ clock in the night.
 Sri Jagannatha Dasaru
(1728AD – 1809AD)
Acknowledgements:
• www.Dvaita.Org
• www.vijayadasaru.net
• www.GuruRaghavendra1.org
• “Sri Haridasa Vijaya” original in Kannada by Sri Belur Kesava Dasar and
compiled in Tamil by Smt.Padma Srinivasan
• www.aarshavani.org
• “Srimad Harikathamruthasara” of Amman Publications, Chennai
Dharma brings happiness