Jagannatha Daasa Part 3

Brothers

Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaaksha were two demonic brothers destined to die at the hands of Vishnu. Vishnu donned a short avataara each, specifically to put an end to them. When Hiranyaaksha snatched Earth away from its orbit and dunked it into cosmic abyss, Vishnu in the form of a wild boar, Varaaha, placed Earth back in its place gently, and revealed his ferocious side to Hiranyaaksha and killed him.

Hiranyakashipu spread adharma and tortured Vaishnavas but was unable to deter his son Prahallada, a devout Vaishnava, who became the cause of his destruction. Vishnu in the form of Narasimha emerged from a pillar, tore open Hiranyakashipu’s abdomen killing him.

But the brothers in question here are not the asuras. Prahallada had many brothers. Of them, Sahalada is known to us for his well-known reincarnations.

Jagannatha Daasa had a disciple by name Pranesha Daasa. He has described the previous births of Jagannatha Daasaru, thus… Hiranyakashipu ja sahlada neeve eradane janmadi shalyanaada guruvaadirajaralli archisida purandaradaasaraayaralli udasida…

Relatives

In Dwaapara yuga, Hastinapura was ruled by Shantanu, the father of Bheeshma and later the husband of Satyavathi. The throne of Kurus was always reserved for the male progeny according to their order of birth.

But, Shantanu (the youngest of three brothers) ascended the throne because his eldest brother, Devapi, had an incurable disease and recused himself. The next contender was Bahlika (Prahallada in the previous birth) who was gifted another piece of land which he chose to rule. Bahlika Raja complied with the wishes of his nephew Bheeshma and fought on the Kauravas’ side in the Mahabharatha war. He is said to have been around 200 years of age at the time of the war!

Sahalada was reborn as Shalya, the brother of Madri, the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. Shalya was a skilled warrior and was on his way to fight the war on the side of his nephews when he mistakenly accepted the hospitality of Duryodhana and was tricked into fighting on the side of the Kauravas.

While Krishna was egging on Arjuna as his charioteer, Shalya, as Karna’s charioteer, was demotivating him by constantly praising the Pandavas. Eventually he became the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army on the last day of the war.

Contemporaries

Prahallada, in Kali Yuga, was reborn as Vyaasa Tirtha first and then as Raghavendra Tirtha

There are two stories regarding the birth of Sahalada during the time of Vyaasa Tirtha.

One of them as espoused by Pranesha Daasa, is that Sahalada was reborn as a disciple of Vaadiraja Tirtha, who was in turn the disciple of Vyaasa Tirtha. He is also believed to have been one of the first three sons of Purandara Daasa, who was also the disciple of Vyaasa Tirtha. It is not clear which of them was Sahalada. The youngest son, Madhwapathi was reborn as Vijaya Daasa.

The other story which Jagannatha Daasa has himself alluded to goes thus… Once Vyaasa Tirtha, went to an isolated area beyond the river Tungabhadra along with Vaadiraja Tirtha and Purandara Daasa. As they shared their divine insights and experiences, they alternatingly burst into tears (of joy) and into laughter (experiencing Ananda). This strange sight was witnessed by an old man herding sheep.

When Purandara Daasa said, “I wish Kanaka were here”… Vyaasa Tirtha beckoned the old man and allaying his fears told him to bring Kanaka while the three of them would tend to his sheep. While the old man hesitated, Vyaasa Tirtha promised to grant him whatever he asked for, upon his return.

The old man set out on a boat and reaching the other bank went to meet Kanaka. He relayed the message to Kanaka and also added that they were an odd trio, laughing and crying!

Kanaka asked the old man whether they had promised him any reward. When the old man answered in the affirmative, Kanaka asked him, what he intended to ask for. The old man said he had nothing in mind and would accept whatever was granted to him, also expressing some doubt as to what the three men donning anklets, dancing, laughing and crying could offer him. To which Kanaka said, “Oh no, you must demand something specific from them” and told him what to ask for. When the old man and Kanaka reached the three of them, Vyaasa Tirtha asked the old man what he wanted. The old man said, “I saw that the three of you were laughing and crying. I want a bit of that and a bit of this.”

Vyaasa Tirtha immediately knew that these were not his words but those of Kanaka’s. He asked the old man why he asked for it. The old man confessed that it was on Kanaka’s advice and that he had indicated that it would stand him in good stead in his next birth.

Vyaasa Tirtha bestowed the old man with a bit of both and thus were sown the seeds of divinity in the shepherd who was to be reborn as Jagannatha Daasa.

Jagannatha Daasa and Rayaru

Prahallada was reborn as Raghavendra Tirtha* while Sahalada was reborn as Jagannatha Daasa.

*The utsava murthy (the smaller idol representative of the main idol which is taken out in processions) in every Rayara matha is that of a young boy, Prahallada Maharaaja.

Jagannatha Daasa was born five decades after Rayaru entered Brindavana. Rayaru’s acknowledgement of their fraternal bond in his initial interaction, (when he said, Tamma, neenu anyanalla…) proved to be life altering for Srinivasaacharya. In his new life as Jagannatha Daasa, he composed several songs on Rayaru.

It is said that Jagannatha Daasa would address Rayaru in his Brindavana and Rayaru would become visible to him and converse with him. When people heard of this, they began to pester Jagannatha Daasa to show them Rayaru conversing with him. Rayaru at once stopped becoming visible to Jagannatha Daasa and became silent. It was then that Jagannatha Daasa composed the heartfelt song, “Yaake mookhanadyo guruve nee…” For a soulful rendering by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, visit:

For more Jagannatha Daasara padagalu about Rayaru, listen to:

Raaya baaro, tande taayi baaro…(Raichur Sheshagiridas)

Yeddu baruthaare node… (Bellur sisters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJnzRkxDNkY

Nambi kettavarilla … (Puttur Narasimha Nayak) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOrkNSqDXkY

Raghavendra Yati Sarvabhauma…(Vidyabhushana) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmsMW5yWrJc

Rogaharana kripa saagara….(Sindhu, Smitha) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8cFszvBa_k