Jagannatha Daasa Part 4
Aparoksha Gnaana in display
Jagannatha Daasaru’s life is spangled with extraordinary displays of intuitive wisdom and supernatural perceptiveness. Here are a few incidents that offer us a glimpse of the greatness of Jagannatha Daasa.
Sathyabodha Tirtha of Uttradi matha and Jagannatha Daasaru shared a close friendship. Satyabodha Tirtha in his poorvashrama worshipped ‘Bhoovaraha’ but as the pontiff of the matha he had to perform ceremonial worship of Digvijaya Raama. As he sat in meditation, the mental image of Bhoovaraha would appear in place of Raama. He would try to focus on the mental image of Raama, whenever this happened. Once, as he sat in silence with his eyes closed, he shook his head when he saw the image of Bhoovaraha instead of Raama. Jagannatha Daasa who saw the pontiff shake his head, said, “The deity who was pleased in your poorvaashrama is the one who has placed you on this seat as head of the matha. It is perfectly alright to see Bhoovaraha in the image of Raama!” Satyabodha Tirtha realised that nothing could remain hidden from the Daasa!
When Jagannatha Daasaru, at Udupi, was explaining the works of Vaadiraja Tirtha and the audience sat mesmerised, it was discovered that a mute boy had been made to sit right in front of the Daasa. After the evening’s programme, Jagannatha Daasaru asked the boy, if all was well. The mute boy spoke, “Yes, by God’s grace”. Then Jagannnatha Daasaru turned towards the four people who were responsible for the boy’s presence and asked them, if all was well. To their shock, they could not reply! Jagannatha Daasa rebuked them for trying to test Krishna, and told them that they could rid themselves of their sin by serving the devotees at the temple for a week.
After the end of Tipu Sultan’s rule in Mysore (1799), Diwan Poornaiah, who had served under Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali, continued to manage the state affairs under the rule of Mummadi Krishna Wodeyar. As the Diwan was extremely hard pressed for time, he was unable to listen to Jagannatha Daasa, though he was housed in his large mansion. He decided to host an exclusive lunch for the Daasa and some eminent scholars of the time. The scholars suggested that they meet on an Ekadashi (the fortnightly day of fast) since they did not want to eat with a “Daasa”. They also suggested a remuneration (sambhavane) of an ordinary shawl and five rupees, as they declared that an audience of such eminent scholars as themselves was more than reward for the Daasa. The Diwan reluctantly agreed.
Before Jagannatha Daasa began to sing, he drew the image of Ranganatha of Shriranga on a Chakraabja Mandala. As Diwan Poornaiah later confirmed, the actual Ranganatha idol (in faraway Shriranga) was bereft of ornaments and was adorned only by a garland of Tulasi on that day! (Owing to his skill at drawing rangoli, Jagannatha Daasaru is also known as Rangoli daasa, which is in all probability a corruption of the phrase, Ranga olida daasa*).
*daasa who has been graced by Ranga/Krishna
After listening to Jagannatha Daasa, a moved Diwan Poornaiah spontaneously offered him a plateful of 1000 gold coins and an exquisite shawl. Jagannatha Daasa refused to accept it, saying, “This is not in accordance with what was decided by you. You planned to give me five rupees and an ordinary shawl which is what I will be willing to accept!” The Diwan was chagrined and begged for forgiveness, which was of course readily granted.
To even begin to fathom the electrifying singing of Jagannatha Daasa, listen with earphones to: Vittalayya Vittalayya by Jayateerth Mevundi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4VEA2wVBnw
Journey
After obtaining the blessings of Gopala Daasa and Vijaya Daasa, Jagannatha Daasa travelled for around 10 to 12 years. Retracing his steps to Maanvi, he passed through Gadhwal and Surupur, helping people on the way. When the ruler of Surupur granted profit yielding lands to the Daasa, he gave them away to priestly families.
When Jagannatha Daasa visited Karjagi, a little town in Haveri district, he was accommodated in a large mansion that belonged to a man called Daasappa who was given to various vices. When his wife begged him to stay at home to listen to Jagannatha Daasaru’s songs, he surprisingly obliged. When Pranesha Daasa, Jagannatha’s disciple, sang what was supposedly an invocation, Daasappa had a transformation by listening to the song which derided his vices. Not satisfied with mere tears of penitence, Pranesha Daasa asked Daasappa if he would be willing to shave off his handlebar moustache. Daasappa, humbled, agreed to do so. Jagannatha Daasaru granted him the ankitha “Shreeda Vittala” and in the course of time Daasappa came to be known as Karjagi Daasa and eventually became enlightened. The 33rd chapter of Harikathaamruthasaara has been composed by Karjagi Daasa.
Settling down at Maanvi, Jagannatha Daasaru had to face two unsettling incidents, the death of his son followed by the death of his son-in-law. When his widowed daughter came to live with him, he composed the ‘Tattva Suvaali’* in a manner that lent itself to easy chanting, to grant her peace of mind. The daughter not only found peace but also went on to become an accomplished scholar herself.
*To listen to a part of Tattva Suvvali in praise of the “Grahas”
To listen to a part of Tattva Suvvali in praise of Rudra Devaru
To listen to a part of Tattva Suvvali in praise of Tulasi
Harikathamruthasaara
Jagannatha Daasa had spent the first four decades of his life in acquiring knowledge and dispensing it. The next four decades were spent in travel and dissemination of Tattvavaada. Finally when he was around 80 years, (it is said that he had students hold up his eyelids, to prevent them from drooping, as he wrote) he began the epic, Harikathaamruthasaara, for which he was born, for which he had been granted 40 years of life, for which he is revered to date.