soc.religion.vaishnava -- Haridasa FAQ

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soc.religion.vaishnava -- Haridasa FAQ
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  experiencing ecstatic meditation.

For further details you may refer to Compositions and Style of haridasas
at http://www.dvaita.org/haridasa/overview/style.html

  25) Where can I find biographical information on Important Haridasas :

Haridasa Bhaktha Vijaya written by Beluru Keshavadasa which is considered
to be classical book on Haridasa Sahitya was first published in 1944 (reprinted)
will give brief account of each Haridasas in kannada language

(Ref : Sri Karnataka Bhakti Vijaya, Mysore, Harimandira 1944)


  26) Why Vittala is added with Ankitha?

Lord Vishnu in different forms, especially in his Krishna/Vittala form is
the source of inspiration to the Haridasas.  The followers of Madhva are
inspired by Krishna.  This is mainly because of the importance given to
Krishna by the great Madhvacharya who installed Bala Krishna in Udupi and
also the lord has been wonderfully depicted in the Bhagavata.
 
Sri Vittala of Pandarapura is associated with Bhakthi and Bhajan movement
since the time immemorial.  Sri Vittala is being adorned by large number
of devotees barring caste, religion, sex etc.  That might be the reason
for Haridasas associating their ankita with Vittala.  Another explanation
is that Sri SripAdaraja who was the beginner of this great movement has
kept his ankita as 'Ranga Vittala' and Sri Purandara Dasa has continued
this tradition by keeping his ankita as Purandara Vittala.  This tradition
has continued even to-day.


  27) Which are the holy places associated with Haridasa movement?

Pandarapura, Udupi, Tirumala Tirupathi, Manthralaya,
Vraja-Gokula-Brandavana-Mathura, Dvaraka, Srirangam, Hampi, Belur,
Srirangapatna and other few places are associated with Haridasas.  These
are the places where Bhakti/Devotion movement has been started and reached
its peak in praising the presiding dieties of the places.  Some of the
local dieties are also associated with Haridasas like Kaginele Adikeshava,
Helevanakatte Ranga etc. depending upon the individual haridasa's devotion
and worship. 

  28) Are all Haridasas Brahmins/Madhwas or are there others who are 
associated with this movement?

For worshipping God there is no bar on caste, religion, creed etc.
Other individuals who have faith in God and the principles of dvaita
have also subscribed to Haridasa movement.  Sri Kanaka Dasa, Sri Bade sab
Ramdas and others are the living example of individuals who are associated
with dasa movement though they belong to other communities.


  29) Are there Dasas in other hindu religious sects also?

Yes, Alwars are assocated with Srivaishnava sect, Hare Krishna Panth aka
ISKON or Gaudiya sect is also associated with bhakti movement.  There are
few Advaita dasas also.  Shaivites are also associated with Bhakti
movement with their vachanas with different principles. 

You can also look at Comparison of Haridasas with other saints of
Haridasa homepage at http://www.dvaita.org/haridasa/overview/com_dasa.html.

  30) Which are the regions where Haridasas are concentrated or lived and
Haridasa sahitya is generated?

Most of the Haridasas are from Karnataka and Maharashtra region.  In
Karnataka also most of the Haridasas and Haridasa sahitya were available
from Raichur district covering Gadwal, Anegundi, Lingasugur etc and
Dharwad district.  It has also spread in south of Karnataka like Mysore,
Bangalore etc.

  31) Who are the famous Haridasas?

Among the Yathi (saint) dasas Sri Sripadaraja, Sri Vyasaraja and Sri
Vadiraja thirtha are well known.

Among the house holder haridasas Sri Purandara Dasa, Sri Kanaka Dasa, Sri
Vijaya Dasa, Sri Gopala Dasa, Sri Mohana Dasa, Sri Jagannatha Dasa,
Helevanakatte Giriyamma, Sri Mahipathi Dasa, Sri Venugopala Dasa, Sri
Prasanna Venkata Dasa, Harapanahalli Bhimavva, Sri Guru Jagannatha Dasa,
Sri Pranesha Dasa are most popular.


  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


II Glossary of Terms with meaning used in Haridasa Sahitya
----------------------------------------------------------

The following is the list of foreign terms used in this document (mainly
from sanskrit and Kannada languages) and their definition/meaning in the
context ofHaridasas.

* Acharya : Spiritual teacher, most commonly used in connection with
Acharya maDhwa.
* angAra : A special coal-based paste worn on the forehead used by
maDhwas. Usually used in combination with akshate.
* Ankitha : A phrase or combination of words used by a dAsa to identify a
        composition as his or hers.
* akshathe : A special paste worn on the forehead used by maDhwas. Usually
used in combination with angara.
* arohana : Ascending order
* avarohana : Descending order
* BhAgavata : BhAgavata purAna : one of the holy scriptures revered by all
        Hindus. It describes the incarnations of vishnu.
* BhagavadgIta : one of the holy scriptures revered by all Hindus.
* Bhajan : A hymn. Usually sung collectively.
* Bhakthi : devotion
* Bhakthi-marga : The path of devotion
* Bharatha : India. Is also used as short form of MahABhAratabharatha.
* Chatike : Musical instrument used by HaridAsas for their bhajans. It is
     made out of wood with small bells which gives sound for their songs.
* dAsa : see HaridAsas
* dAsakUta : gathering of dAsas see FAQ
* dAsatva : the principle of considering oneself a haridAsa, surrendering
to the lord.
* dashAvatAra : the ten incarnations made by Vishnu to protect the world.
* Dhoti : A cloth used by Indians to cover the lower part of their
        body. Usually this cloth is made of cotton and is usually white in
colour.
* Dvaita : one of the major schools of Hindu philosophy.
* gIta : another term for BhagavadgIta.
* gOpi-candana : Special yellow mud available in Dwaraka, western part of
India which is used by maDhwas for Urdwapundra and other marks on the
body
* JnAna : Knowledge.
* guru : Teacher, preceptor
* guru-shishya : teacher-pupil
* Hari, Sri Hari : One of the names of Vishnu.
* hari sarvOttamatvatva : The principle of considering hari (or vishnu) to
        be \ the foremost amongst all Gods.
* HaridAsa : Servant of God
* Hindu : One of the major religious of the world. The main religion of
        India and Nepal.
* Indriya : Sensory organ.
* jada : a non-living or inanimate being.
* jIva : a living being.
* kAlagejje : small bells attached to the foot.
* kannaDa : one of the languages of India, spoken mostly in karnAtaka
* karma : has several meanings. Major ones are fate or Destiny, action
* karnAtaka : one of the states of India.
* karnatak music : One of the traditional schools of Indian music. Popular
        in the southern parts of India.
* kIrtana : A song composed according to conventions of classical music.
* MahABhArata, bharatha : A holy epic revered by all Hindus.
* mantra : hymn, a devotional incantation.
* maTha : a religious monastery.
* maThADhipatis : the head of a religious monastery.
* maDhwa : The founder of dvaita or tattvavAda school of Hindu philosophy.
* mADhwa : can be used as a noun to indicate any follower of maDhwa. Can
be used as an adjective to indicate anything related to the dvaita \
        school of philosophy.
* mOksha : used interchangeably with "mukthi"to indicate liberation of a
        soul from the cycle or birth and death.
* mrutthike : soil or mud which has been sanctified.
* mudrike : signet, ring or ankitha
* mukthi : used interchangeably with "mOksha" to indicate liberation of a
        soul from the cycle of birth and death.
* naivEdya : food offered to God.
* nArAyana : One of the names of Vishnu.
* padas: Padas are type of compositions of HaridAsa's composed both before
        and after the God-Vision is provided by the Haridasas.
* panchaBhEda : Five-fold difference. See FAQ for more details.
* pancha-Mudra : five seals or symbols. These are used by maDhwas to
   sanctify their body.
* panchEndriya : five sensory organs.

* pandharapur : A city in Maharasthra, India, a religious pilgrimage
center for Hindus.
* pAnDuranga : one of the names of Vishnu alias Krishna.
* paramAtma : supreme soul (God)
* pillari gItas : Musical compositions to be taught to beginners
* prakruthi : nature
* purAna : Sacred Hindu mythology supposed to have been composed by
        vEdavyAsa.
* purusha : human being (male).
* rAma : one of the incarnations of Vishnu.
* rAmayana : a holy epic revered by all Hindus. Describes the life of rAma
        one of the incarnations of Vishnu.
* sAhitya : literature
* samsAra : material world.
* samsAra bandhana : worldly bondage (usually meaning misery) 
* samgIta : music.
* sanskrit : ancient language used in Hindu religious scriptures.
* sanyAsi : mendicant friar. He is supposed to have renounced all
        worldly ties.
* sarvOttamatva :  quality of being Supreme, used to denote vishnu or Hari
* shuDhi : purity, clean
* shruti : musical tone used to help a musician stay in tune. It is also
        used for vEdas (which are usually heard in ears).
* siDhDhAnta : Fundamental principles.
* sishya : Disciple, follower, student.
* smruti : holy scriptures. Usually used to denote vEdas.
* sulAdis: Suladis are composed and used for preaching doctrinal points
once Haridasas obtained Aparoksha.
* swAmIjI : A (respectful) form of addressing a religious pontiff or
saint.
* tAla : rhythm
* tattvavAda : another name for the dvaita school of philosophy.
* tambUri : a single or four stringed instrument used by Indian musicians
as an accompaniment.
* tAratamya : hierarchy
* tulasi : basil plant. Considered to be very dear to Vishnu and hence
        revered by all hindus.
* uGabhOgas: uGabhOgas are composed by Haridasas when in ecstatic
meditation.
* Uncha vrutti : One who earns the food/money not for keeping or saving
and to eat/live for daily basis.
* Urdhva pundra: Five symbols or stamps which are put up by the maDhwa's
on the body through gOpi-candana.
* upanishads : sacred or religious lore of Hindus.
* vEda : sacred scriptures of Hindus.
* ViTTala : one of the names of Vishnu alias Krishna.
* vyAsa : short form of 'vEdavyAsa', one of the incarnations of Vishnu. Is
        also used to denote vyAsa Tiirtha a great maDhwa pontiff.
* vyAsakUta : a gathering of scholars see FAQ.
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