Mantralaya-2047
( Sri Pranesha Dasaru, a great devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swamy , Part 1)
Date : Jun 19, 2025
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
Background
The divine life of Sri Pranesha Dasaru, a great devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swamy - Part 1, is described in Mantralaya (2047).
Meaning
In
this episode, we delve into the inspiring life of another great
Haridasa, Sri Pranesha Dasaru, and his deep, divine connection with Sri
Raghavendra Swamy.
Sri Pranesha Dasaru also known as Pranesha
Vittala Dasaru (1736–1822), was a revered saint, poet, and scholar in
the Dvaita Vedanta tradition. He played a major role in the Haridasa
movement and is remembered for his rich contributions to Haridasa
Sahitya, the devotional literature dedicated to Lord Hari (Vishnu).One
of the most significant aspects of his life was his intimate spiritual
connection with Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
Sri Pranesha Dasaru was
born in 1736 in Lingasugur, a town in the Raichur district of
Karnataka. He was born into a devout Brahmin family that held deep
faith in the Madhwa tradition. His birth name was Yogeendra. Yogeendra
was one of three sons of Tirakappa Kulkarni, a staunch devotee of Sri
Raghavendra Swamy. Yogeendra’s mother was also a pious woman, and the
entire family was spiritually grounded. Yogeendra's brothers were named
Raghappa and Subbanna. From the beginning, the family followed the
teachings of Sri Madhvacharya, with special devotion to Lord Vishnu.
Their home was filled with ritual, study, and service rooted in Dvaita
Vedanta.
A major turning point in Yogeendra’s early life came
through his elder brother, Raghappa, who was born with leukoderma,
white patches covering his body. In search of healing, the family
offered seva at Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Mantralaya. Their prayers
were answered. By the grace of Sri Rayaru, the white patches
disappeared—except for one small patch on Raghappa’s right foot. Hoping
for complete healing, the family again performed seva.That night, Sri
Rayaru appeared in their dreams. He revealed that the remaining patch
was not a defect but a divine sign, a mark of Yogeendra’s celestial
origin. Rayaru disclosed that Yogeendra was the incarnation of Emperor
Pandu, father of the Pandavas. The small white patch would remain on
Raghappa as a sacred symbol of this divine lineage. This profound
revelation left a lasting impression on the family. It marked
Yogeendra’s life as one touched by divine purpose and deeply connected
to Sri Raghavendra Swamy’s grace from the earliest years.
It is
truly remarkable how great souls take birth again and again for the
upliftment of the world. It is awe-inspiring to realize that Pandu Raja
of the Mahabharata was reborn as Yogeendra, who later became known to
the world as Sri Pranesha Dasaru.
Yogeendra’s early education
included the study of Persian, which was the official administrative
language of the region during that period. This was likely influenced
by the continued cultural and bureaucratic legacy of the Mughal era.
However, his life took a profound and transformative turn when he came
into contact with Sri Jagannatha Dasaru, a towering figure in the
Haridasa tradition, renowned for his deep scholarship and for composing
the spiritual classic Sri Harikathamrutasara.
When Sri
Jagannatha Dasaru visited Lingasugur, he stayed at the home of
Tirakappa Kulkarni, Yogeendra’s father. During this visit, he met the
young Yogeendra.Sri Jagannatha Dasaru immediately recognized the boy’s
spiritual potential. Sri Jagannatha Dasaru described Yogeendra as a
"precious jewel" destined for great things.Moved by divine intuition,
Sri Jagannatha Dasaru placed his hand on Yogeendra’s head and blessed
him. He then conferred the ankita (pen name) “Sri Pranesha Vittala”,
formally initiating him into the Dasa Koota, the sacred community of
Haridasas.This marked the beginning of Yogeendra’s transformation into
a saint. From that day forward, he came to be known as Sri Pranesha
Vittala Dasaru.Inspired by this life-changing encounter, he made a
pivotal decision. He abandoned his earlier study of Persian and turned
fully toward spiritual learning.Sri Pranesha Vittala Dasaru moved to
Harapanahalli to study under the guidance of Rotti Varadacharya, a
respected scholar. There, he immersed himself in Sanskrit, Madhwa
shastras, and the core principles of Dvaita Vedanta.Through this
training, Pranesha Dasaru deepened his understanding of both philosophy
and spiritual practice, laying the foundation for his future as a
profound Haridasa, poet, and teacher.
Pranesha Dasaru’s later
life was marked by simplicity, devotion, and renunciation. He chose to
live in relative poverty, detached from material comforts, and wholly
devoted to spiritual practice and service.His days were spent composing
devotional poetry and songs, filled with deep bhakti toward Lord Hari,
Vayu devaru, and his revered gurus. His work became an offering of the
heart, not just art. Each day, Dasaru would tend to cattle in the
forest, a humble task that also offered him solitude. These quiet hours
became moments of meditation and contemplation.This austere and
inward-focused lifestyle nurtured in him a profound sense of vairagya
(detachment from worldly desires). Through constant remembrance of the
Lord and selfless living, he attained the state of an aparoksha jnani,
one who has direct realization of truth.Throughout his journey, his
brother Raghappa remained by his side. He served as Pranesha Dasaru’s
scribe, helping to write down his compositions as they flowed through
divine inspiration.
Sri Pranesha Dasaru shared a deep and sacred
bond with Sri Raghavendra Swamy. This connection was not merely
emotional, it was spiritual and divine. It revealed itself through
miracles, visions, and many devotional compositions that Pranesha
Dasaru lovingly dedicated to Sri Rayaru.
One of the most
extraordinary episodes in Sri Pranesha Dasaru’s divine journey involved
Sri Varadendra Teertharu (1761–1785), a revered pontiff of the Sri
Raghavendra Swamy Mutt and a radiant link in Rayaru’s spiritual lineage.
During
a visit to Lingasugur, Sri VaradendraTeertharu chose to stay at the
home of Pranesha Dasaru. In a gesture brimming with humility and divine
intention, the great pontiff accepted a simple bundle of hay from
Dasaru as Dana, a sacred offering. Before departing, Sri
VaradendraTeertharu gave an unusual yet precise instruction: "Preserve
this haystack carefully until I return." Though the request seemed
ordinary, it held profound spiritual significance.
Years later,
in 1785, after Sri VaradendraTeertharu entered Brindavana in Pune.
Later Sri VaradendraTeertharu appeared in a dream to Pranesha Dasaru.
In that divine vision, the saint said “Pranesha, I shall manifest
beneath the haystack, as a Tulsi plant, where you offered your
devotion.”
Awestruck and deeply moved, Pranesha Dasaru rushed to
the site the next morning. To his amazement and joy, a fresh Tulsi
plant had indeed sprouted under the haystack—just as foretold in the
dream.Soon after, Sri Varadendra Teertharu’s padukas (sacred sandals)
arrived from Pune. This affirmed the truth of the divine vision.
Recognizing the spiritual command, Pranesha Dasaru acted without delay.
He arranged for the construction of a Brindavana at that very spot. A
Purusha Shile (sacred stone) was brought from Gulaganji Morade, a
nearby holy site, to sanctify the structure.The Brindavana, marked by
the Tulsi plant, divine grace, and the saint’s padukas, became a
powerful center of devotion.To this day, it continues to be a sacred
place of worship.It is lovingly preserved and maintained by the
descendants of Sri Pranesha Dasaru.This extraordinary episode reveals
the profound spiritual bond between Pranesha Dasaru and the Raghavendra
parampara. It also affirms his role as a divinely chosen
vessel—entrusted with the responsibility of preserving, protecting, and
honoring the sacred legacy of Sri Rayaru’s lineage.
Pranesha
Dasaru’s compositions reflect his deep reverence for Sri Rayaru. His
works often praise the Madhwa lineage, including Rayaru, as a guiding
force for devotees. For instance, in his Kannada poem Sri Hari Vayu
Stuti, Pranesha Dasaru rendered a faithful translation of Sri
Trivikrama Panditacharya’s Sanskrit Hari Vayu Stuti into Bhamini
Shatpadi meter, emphasizing the supremacy of Lord Hari and Vayu,
figures central to Rayaru’s spiritual legacy. His compositions also
include references to the Raghavendra Swamy Mutt and its pontiffs, such
as Sri SubhodendraTeertharu (1799–1835) indicating his deep connection
to the Mutt’s tradition.
The presence of Sri Rayaru in
Mantralaya catalyzed the Haridasa movement in the region, and Pranesha
Dasaru was among those who drew inspiration from this spiritual hub. It
became customary for Haridasas to visit Mantralaya and offer seva to
Sri Rayaru, and Pranesha Dasaru’s family was no exception, with their
frequent visits and sevas shaping his spiritual outlook. The miraculous
experiences of his family, coupled with his own devotion, reinforced
his lifelong commitment to Rayaru’s teachings and legacy.
In the
next part of this series, we will explore more of the divine encounters
and miraculous events from the life of Sri Pranesha Dasaru.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||