Ananda Daasa Part 2
Gandharva gaana
Ananda Daasaru decided to actively seek God. He began his quest by visiting Mantralaya. During his stay at Mantralaya, he became acquainted with a great“aporaoksha gnaani”, Krishnaacharya from Ibrahimpura.
One day, Ananda Daasa was playing the ‘Rudra Veene’*, in front of the Brindavana of Rayaru, lost to the world. He was brought out of his reverie by Krishnaacharya’s comments. He said, “Yes, Ananda…your singing reveals your true nature. A Gandharva** here! A Gandharva in Devaloka too! Do you now recognise your swaroopa***?”
Ananda Daasa confessed to Krishnaacharya that he felt that his scholarliness, the erstwhile royal patronage, the years spent hitherto, were in vain, and he now merely wished to seek the Lord’s grace through his music. Krishnaacharya assured him that music was indeed the path to salvation for the Daasa.
Ananda Daasa, having gained some insight to his swaroopa, went away to nearby Panchamukhi (where Raghavendra Tirtha had spent time in meditation) to contemplate on Lord Narasimha, in solitude. He began to experience spiritual bliss. When the “aradhane” of Rayaru drew near, Ananda Daasa reached the banks of Tungabhadra, in order to reach Mantralaya. He insisted on crossing the river which was in spate. The reluctant boatman lost his nerve when he could no longer handle the oars and was ready to jump off the boat to swim to safety. A stranded Ananda Daasa sat in the boat with hands folded in prayer, fervently reciting lines from the Poornabodha Stotra.
*a type of Veene, the other common type being the ‘Saraswathi Veene’
**Gandharvas are divine beings known for their music and dance
***the true identity of the soul
The rescuer in loincloth
“Don’t fear… I’m coming!” were the words that Ananda Daasa heard over the roar of the river. Ananda Daasa was taken aback when he saw a man in a loincloth quickly swimming to the boat, retrieving the oars and steering the boat to safety. Upon reaching the banks of the river, the man in the loincloth handed over something to the boatman and said, “Daasare, let’s move.” The Daasa asked, “Where to?” He replied, “To Manchaale.” And to the Daasa’s query as to who he was, the man said, “Raghappa Manchaale!”
Ananda Daasa immediately fell at the feet of the rescuer (who was none other than Rayaru) and shed tears of joy. The rescuer said, “I have been assigned by the Lord to help save people from drowning” (in the ocean of samsaara) and vanished.
Ananda Daasa made his way to the temple and circumambulated the Brindavana chanting, “Shri Raghavendraya Namaha” till the wee hours of the dawn. At the break of dawn, Krishnaacharya, accompanied by seven learned men, entered the precincts and merrily asked the Daasa, “Ananda… did you get away from the flood? Did you see Rayaru?” Ananda Daasa prostrated to the Acharya and his retinue. When they expressed a desire to hear him sing, he composed and sang, “Raghavendra Raayara padaambuja…”
To listen to this song, sung by Bellur sisters, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTHFoauo6bY
For more songs composed on Rayaru…
Hari Sarvothama Vayu Jeevothama… (Bellur sisters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a qioc6uDQ
Mantralayadolu Raajiparaare… (Bellur sisters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSP6x7skqkA
Tunga teera virajam bhaja mana… (Bellur sisters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoTXO6jLOKg
Yeke brindavanadi nelesiruve guruve… (Bellur sisters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH3hlD4FJgc
Karedare bara baarade Guruve… (Bombay Sisters)
Ninna nambidenayya Shri Raghavendra….. (Abijna Rao)
Enlightenment and end
Ananda Daasa attained enlightenment as predicted by Krishnaacharya. Outwardly there was no change, he looked and acted the same, but inwardly he had become a Daasa in the true sense. Moving from Mantralaya he travelled to Gadhwal and Ibrahimpura amongst other places, finally reaching Surapur.
Ten years after he attained enlightenment, he passed away as he had lived his life, in Ananda!
Seated in a Gopalakrishna temple, one dwadashi day, surrounded by devotees, he was aptly singing “There is nothing more to ask for*… when I have Kamalesha Vittala himself” when his divine voice fell silent, forever.