Vaikunta Daasa

Keshava Aiyengar’s aloofness

Vaikunta Daasaru (1480 – 1550) was born in Belur (also known as Velapura) in Karnataka. His name was Keshava Aiyengar. Since he remained a householder, it cannot be called his “poorvashrama” name. And unlike other hari daasas who were constantly travelling, he stayed in Belur all his life!

The boy Keshava was peculiar. He hardly spoke to people and spent all his time in solitude at the Keshava Temple at Belur. If the prasada at the temple sated his hunger, he would not go home at all. He appeared to be dull because he did not engage with the world, but his mind was fixed on the Lord. He had vowed to himself that he would not get involved in worldly activities till he had a vision of Keshava and was also granted his wish that Keshava would appear before him as a friend, whenever he (Keshava Aiyengar) felt like.

It is said that Keshava Aiyengar was an “amsha*” of Arjuna. Hence, the desire for “friendship” with his beloved Krishna.

Since, Keshava Aiyengar displayed a penchant for bursting into tears at the mention of God, people steered clear of the topic and of him. As expected, his parents were worried and as marriage was and is considered the solution to such maladies, they thought that getting him married to a pretty girl would bring him to his senses.

*when a God manifests only partially in a human form, it is called “amsha”. (Sripadaraja was “Dhruva-amsha”) Only when sixteen qualities of a God are manifested in any form, is it considered an “avataara”.

Belur becomes Bhoovaikunta

Keshava Aiyengar was married to Soumyanaayaki, much against his wishes. This particular marriage was truly made in heaven for Soumyanaayaki was an amsha of Uloopi, one of Arjuna’s wives in the Dwaapara Yuga.

For ten years, Keshava Aiyengar did not as much as look at his wife, let alone speak to her. Soumyanaayaki had to bear the taunts of people around her. After accepting the silent treatment for a decade, she entreated her husband to allow her to participate in his quest for the divine. Keshava Aiyengar, suddenly realising that he was being unnecessarily harsh to his wife, spoke to her pleasantly for the first time. He laid a condition that he would observe “brahmacharya” until Keshava granted him his wish.

After this exchange, the couple prayed to Lord Keshava together. In the course of time, Keshava showed himself to the couple. When Keshava Aiyengar requested that the Lord appear before him as a friend and as a child, Keshava the God said, “Henceforth you are my daasa, and I will grant your wish, but why only as a friend and as a child, I will be your “sevaka” too. Now you may lead the life of a householder”.

Keshava Aiyengar composed and sang songs with the ankitha “Vaikunta Keshavaraaya” or “Vaikunta Chennigaraaya”. He thus came to be known as Vaikunta Daasa.

The Lord often appeared as child, lay on Vaikunta Daasa’s lap, regaling the couple with his childish antics.

As a friend, he played “pagade” with his devotee, every day, post Vaikunta Daasa’s meal.

Thus fulfilling his devotee’s wish, he honoured his promise to be a “sevaka” too. An attendant was appointed by the temple management to escort Vaikunta Daasa to and fro, his house to the temple. On various occasions, when the actual attendant did not turn up, Keshava in the guise of the attendant, escorted the daasa.

But, Keshava wanted the world to know of his devotee’s greatness. Hence, in one of his appearances as the attendant, he feigned hunger and Soumyanaayaki offered him “sajjappa”. The next morning, when the temple was opened, the priest was surprised to see half a “sajjappa” in front of the Keshava shrine and another half in front of the Aandal (also known as Soumyanaayaki) shrine. When Vaikunta Daasa was summoned to explain this mystery, he was overwhelmed with emotion and burst into a song.

The Lord displayed innumerable miracles during Vaikunta Daasa’s life, prompting people to call Belur, Bhoovaikunta!

Vaadirajaru and Vaikunta Daasaru

Vaadiraja, Purandara Daasa, Kanaka Daasa were Vaikunta Daasa’s contemporaries. When Vaadiraja came to Belur for a few months, he became acquainted with Vaikunta Daasa. A deep connection was made between the two great devotees. Vaadirajaru forgot his status as the head of a matha and as a “yathi” and mingled freely with the householder. Vaikunta Daasa, who was advanced in age, forgot his routine and his prayers and spent all his waking hours with the pontiff. If Vaikunta Daasa was delayed in coming to the temple ever so slightly, it is said, Vaadiraja would rush to his house to bring him to the temple.

On one such occasion, when Vaadiraja went to fetch Vaikunta Daasa from his house, he was amazed to see a baby lying on Vaikunta Daasa’s lap. When Vaadiraja asked Vaikunta Daasa, who the baby was, Vaikunta Daasa replied with a song, “maguvu kaannaiyya, maayada maguvu kaannaiyya, suguna vaadirajane, moojagava (mooru jagava) tanna udaradolitta…”

Vaadiraja sang, in reply, “daasothama neene, shri Vaikunta daasothama neene, enage shrihariyannu torisi dhanyana maadidhe”

It so happened that while talking intently to Vaadiraja, owing to a few missing (or loose) teeth of the ageing Vaikunta Daasa, a few drops of spittle fell on Vaadiraja’s person*. Onlookers were upset and shamed Vaikunta Daasa for disrespecting Vaadiraja. Vaadiraja, was beyond such prosaic forms of courtesies. He declared that, “enjalenna bahude manujarira neevu…. sudharasada bindugalannu”

Vaadiraja displays immense generosity of spirit by looking beyond the obvious. He values Vaikunta Daasa’s words so much that he says the spittle is nothing but drops of nectar!

*Even today some people cover their mouths with their hands while speaking with swamijis!

Vaikunta Daasa and Purandara Daasa

During Purandara Daasa’s wanderings, he came to Belur. An overjoyed Vaikunta Daasa, coaxed Purandara Daasa to stay at Belur for some time.

As Vaikunta Daasa was forever absorbed in spiritual ecstasy, he understood very little of protocol. As Vaadirajaru came to his house in search of him, so also Purandara Daasa sought him out, many times. On one occasion, Purandara Daasa too (like Vaadiraja) witnessed a baby lying on Vaikunta Daasa’s lap. The baby upon seeing Purandara Daasa began to cry (as a startled human child would, upon seeing a stranger). Purandara Daasa sang a soothing lullaby, “aluvudyathako ranga…” and went on to describe the various “baala leele” of his Purandara Vittala!

Despite Vaikunta Daasa being such a recipient of Keshava’s favours, he was destined to meet an untimely death (apamruthyu) in the form of an elephant. It is said that even Vishnu, will not let you escape your “prarabhda karma”. At the most he may reduce it.

Once, the two Daasas engrossed in spiritual discussions, lost track of time and space and wandered toward the forest around Belur. Suddenly, they spotted an elephant which lifted Vaikunta Daasa with its trunk and swung him around. And what does Vaikunta Daasa do? He sings a song, “…. Maadhavane gajavaagi bandhodhagidheyo (bandhu odhagidheyo), naa dhanya Vaikuntapathiye Chennigaraaya!”

After swinging the Daasa around a few more times, the elephant comes to the tree on whose branch, Purandara Daasa had sought refuge, and gently places Vaikunta Daasa at the base of the tree, raises its trunk and walks away. Thus, the presence of Purandara Daasa and the grace of Keshava saved Vaikunta Daasa from apamruthyu.

Vaikunta Daasa lived upto the age of 70 and passed away naturally.