From Here & There
Celebrating a great saint-composer
On the south bank of the river Tungabhadra, adjacent to the famous Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, is a riverside heritage structure called Purandara Mantapa dedicated to Purandaradasa, the saint-composer and court poet of Vijayanagar empire.
Built about 500 years ago (1522-23), Hampi’s Purandara Mantapa is an open-pillared pavilion with a small whitewashed pyramid-shaped tower.
Situated close to the river course, the Mantapa has a stone sculpture of Purandaradasa with a tamburi (a stringed musical instrument). The Purandara Mantapa has a spacious platform where the annual music concert and religious functions are held. On the new moon day in the last week of January (or in the first week of February), the annual aradhana (a series of music concerts) is held here.
Eminent musicians from all over attend the famed event. Purandaradasa (1484-1564), called the ‘Father of Carnatic music’ is known to have rendered and composed soul-stirring dasarapadas (devotional compositions) in thousands.
Named Srinivasa Nayaka by his parents, the composer went on to become Purandaradasa. He signed his compositions with the name Purandara Vitthala. Purandara Dasa traveled extensively through the length and breadth of the Vijayanagara empire composing and rendering soul stirring songs in praise of god. The 448th Aradhana of Purandaradasa was celebrated last week (on January 23) in Hampi and elsewhere.
