SRI GOPALADASA – BRIEF LIFE SKETCH
Pushya Bahula Ashtami is the punyadina of Sri Gopaladasa [c.1720/21 – 1760/61].
He is one of the much celebrated Dasa Trio of post-Vijayanagara period. His ankitan nAma is ‘Gopala Vitthala’ bestowed by Sri Vijayadasa.
BIRTH & CHILDHOOD:
The original name of Gopaladasa was Bhaganna (ಭಾಗಣ್ಣ). He was born to Murari and Venkamma in Mosarakal village. He was the eldest of 4 siblings.
After father’s death his family moved to Uttanuru village where his mother struggled to raise the children. Her hardships have deeply moved young Bhaganna and made him to resolve that he should become rich by all means.
Here is a photograph of his house in Uttanuru near Gadwal, Telangana that has been preserved by descendants.
GAYATRI SIDDHI AT UTTANUR
Bhaganna made a rigorous penance at the Hanuman temple of Uttanur. Every morning, he was taking bath in a well located in the premises of the Anjaneya temple and was performing his Nitya Karma. After that he was sitting under a peepal tree located opposite to Anjaneya pratima to chant Gayatri mantra. Likewise he spent 2 years in deep meditation.
The peepal tree & the place where Gopaladasa did Gayatri japa.
Step well in which Bhaganna took bath for 2 years.
As a result of his deep penance and recitaation, he was bestowed with trikAla jnAna (ability to know past, present & future) of anyone standing before him. He achieved his goal of becoming a great Jyotishka.
MEETING HIS SWARUPA GURU
Sri Vijayadasa
Before meeting Vijayadasa, the legendary saint-poet of those times, Bhaganna was engaged in writing poems that carried ‘Venkata Krishna’ (ವೇಂಕಟಕೃಷ್ಣ) ankita. This was replaced by ‘Gopala Vitthala’ (ಗೋಪಾಲವಿಠಲ) bestowed by Vijayadasa.
The initiation of Bhaganna into Haridasa fold has happened in c.1746 at Mangaraya temple, yet another Hanuman pratima installed by Sri Vyasaraya. This event performed under this banyan tree located inside Mangaraya temple premises.
Tree under which Vijayadasa gave Dasa Diksha to Bhaganna
Within 14 years of his haridAsa lifespan, Gopaladasa wrote hundreds of Kirtana, Suladi & Ugabhoga. Alongside of poetic talent, he was a noteworthy artist too. The hand-drawn paintings at his house at Uttanuru stand testimony of this less known skill of the saint-poet.
JAGANNATHA DASA & EXTENSION OF HIS LIFE SPAN
Sri Jagannatha Dasa was the celebrated disciple-cum-beneficiary of largess of Gopaladasaru.
As per the legend, on advise of Vijayadasaru, Gopaladasaru parted away 40 years of life with Jagannathadasa at Tirumala (estimated to be in a Brahmotsava conducted in c.1754).
Sri Jagannatha Dasa
This great sacrifice made a 33 years young haridAsa to another younger haridAsa (Jagannathadasa) of 27 years age enabled the latter to write ‘Hatikathamrutasara,’ a magnum opus of entire Kannada Haridasa literature.
As a result of donating 40 years of lifespan, Gopaladasaru left his mortal coil in c.1761/62 at Uttanur. Before leaving the mortal world, Gopaladasaru told his brothers that he will be reincarnating in the same village & hence his bones shouldn’t be immersed in Ganga River.
Very useful article every dasa bandugalu should know about Gopaladasaru life history
Dhanyavadagalu.