Purandhara Dasa-An Introduction

Purandara Dasa(1484-1564) is possibly one of the greatest names associated with Carnatic music and considered as the Father of Carnatic music. He belonged to Karnataka and wrote his songs mostly in Kanada, Since he was one of those minstrel poets of that era , trying to poularise devotion to God, he mostly wrote in colloquial Kannada of those days. He is credited to have written more that 40000 songs. Only few of these are available now. His name was sSrinivasa Nayaka and he belonged to the rich merchant community. Some incidents in life made him give away all his property and become a ministrl mendicant.
He was the one who systematized the teaching of Carnatic music. His greatness is indicated by the fact that even today his method is followed and the first Carnatic song which is taught to the student is his composition . Apart from songs on devotion, he has also sung about the different aspects of day to day life.
I am again having a very good working knowledge of Kannada but I am mostly confining myself to songs which are simple and easy to nderstand.