Guru Govinda Vittala Dasaru

Guru Govinda vittala Dasaru

Article published during the 25th Aradhana of Dasaru (2007)
In Kannada: Harati G Prahlad
Translated in English: T.M.Vishwa Janani
Verified by: T.V.Sathya Narayanan

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Sri Guru Govinda Vittala Dasaru of Mysore is one among the most selfless Haridasas I have ever seen. The first time I met him was in 1975-76 which in itself is a very exciting story to share. He used to stay near Ballal circle in Mysore. When asked about his residence, nobody knew him. I could not find his house that night, I came back the next morning but still couldn’t locate his house. Thinking that it was God’s wish,I decided to go to Thirumakoodli Narasipura (T. Narasipura) to attend Shesha Chandrikaacharya’s Aradhana. Standing at that very circle, I saw an old man who was a smartha brahmin coming towards me along with his grandson. To me he looked like Lord Shiva (Rudra Devaru) and so I decided to ask him about the address. When I asked him about it, he said I am also going that way, come along if you want. We took an auto and went to his house. By the time I got down and paid the driver, the old man had vanished.

I went inside, met Guru Govinda Dasaru and took his blessings. He enquired about my well-being and I told him that I was planning to go to T. Narasipura. From that moment I was in touch with him through frequent letters and later on had Sri Krishna Mantra Upadesha from him.

Dasaru has written around 800 songs on devatas, yatis and other hari dasas, apart from giving ankitha to about 265 people. He has also composed devara namas for them. And on including these he has composed around 1000 songs.

He has also composed Nadhi Stotra, Kuchelopakhyana, Annabrahma, Aadhyatmika Venkatesha Kalyana and Dashopanishath in Shatpadi meter in Kannada. We can say that beginning from Madhwacharyaru nobody has done this kind of work till the 20^th century. And when it came to his disciples, he would personally look into each of their difficulties, compose a song and pray for them to God. He has introduced many unknown devotees to the world in his book ‘Haribhakthi Vijaya’ which consists of 7 volumes. He has also translated Sundara Kanda, Ramayana and I. G. Swamiji’s Manasa Smruti into Kannada.

Since he has travelled across the country and has done theertha yatre, he has composed a work named ‘Theertha Kshetra Mala’, which consists of 96 nudis.

In each of his works he has thanked the Tatvabhimani Devatas and Rudraantargata Bharatiramana Mukhyapranaantargata Sri Hari, which shows his belief in the Tatvabhimani Devatas. Moreover, he says that he did not write any of those works, instead it is the Lord himself who has composed them.

Guru Govinda Vittalaru had a unique way of giving ankitha to his shishyas. He has voluntarily given ankitha to some and to some others he given ankitha so that they can render their seva to the Lord. He used to pray, waited till both of them (Dasaru & the shishya to whom ankita to be given) get a dream, composed a song in the praise of the bimba roopi paramatma and then blessed his shishya with ankitha. He has given ankitha to many non-brahmins also. This shows his greatness. But that does not mean that he gave ankitha to anyone and everyone who asked.

He showed lots of affection towards his disciples. Despite his old age, he has never refused anyone who would invite him to any function. He would go there and bless them even if it was at a faraway place.

Once, when a lady approached him for ankitha through one of his disciples (a lady), he asked her several questions and told her to come back to him once she got the dream. The lady prayed for 4-5 years but still did not get any dream. So she went to that lady disciple who had first introduced her to Dasaru and told her that Dasaru did not give me ankitha even after approaching him, please help me. So when the latter met Dasaru, she told him about the concerns of that lady to which he replied that even he did not get any dream. On hearing this she asks him whether she can perform seva on that lady’s behalf and pray to God so that she will get the dream, for which he said yes. From the next day she starts with her seva and within 10-12 days the lady gets the dream. Is it not great that the fruit of ones seva has resulted in another lady getting her ankitha? Many more incidents like this have happened.

Dasaru was not the one who would talk too much. When Dasaru was given the civic honour in Bangalore, we were also present there. There, when he was given a mike and was asked to bless the devotees with a speech (anugraha sandesha), he said instead of him, one of his disciple will speak. This clearly shows that he is not a promoter of himself.

He used to actively participate in the Akhila Bharata Haridasa Sammelana and conduct various programs on the occasion of Purandara Dasara Aaradhana for several years. “Yaayivaarava maadi viprarige mrishtaanna, priyadhali thaanondhu kodadha lobhi” - keeping this (Sri Vyasarayaru’s song on Purandaradasaru) in mind, he has given to the world many gems and has been an inspiration for many.It will not be wrong if we call him ‘Abhinava Purandara Dasaru’.

Dasaru is said to be very stubborn. Once he has decided on something, he does not leave it in between. The incidents that took place during the aaradhana mahotsava at Tirupati and Pandarapur are enough to prove this. Dasaru once decided to perform Bruhati Sahasra Homa on banks of River Godavari through learnt scholars and pandits. By chanting mantras, he made bricks, got them to the venue and performed the homa on a scale that was neither witnessed before nor after. During the homa a Telugu non-brahmin person said that, the Lord himself has come, riding on a horse back (Kalkyavatara), to bless us. Everybody there got surprised, when he shouted the Lord has come and asked everybody to see Him. Dasaru always had special blessings from Sri Vadirajaru. This was evidenced when SwapnaVrindavanakhyana book was published and a homa was performed in its honour. At the age of 89, he completely devoted himself to Sri Hari. He reached his final abode, the lotus feet of the Lord on margashira bahula Dwadashi in Anathapura. I would like to bow my head in respect to the great Dasaru.

Dasaru had special devotion towards Sri Vadirajaru and performed payo vrata in Swadi (Sonda). Whenever he had any problems in his life or any of his disciples were in trouble, he would perform seva to the Rajaru and wait till he gets a solution from Rajaru through a dream before continuing with his other works. This showed how much he devoted himself to Rajaru. 

In 1983 Purandara Dasara Aradhana was scheduled to be held in Swadi. Everyone was very happy that Dasaru himself distributed the invitation cards and was overlooking all the preparation for the aradhana. But what happened? Dasaru left for his heavenly abode just a month before the aradhana and left everyone shocked. But his disciples took over from there and completed the aradhana just the way Dasaru would have done. From then on, for 30 years now, they have been conducting Purandara Dasara Aradhana every year.

The one who questions, how can we call him a Hari Dasaru, will stop in his tracks once he sees Dasaru’s picture. But we should also have a look at his works to know his greatness. This was not the case only with Dasaru. The one who wants to know about all the Hari Dasaru should not comment without having a look at their respective works. The reason behind this is that, as Acharya Madhwaru says, a part of him (his Amsha) resides in all his granthas.

As Purandara dasaru says,“Kereya neeranu kerege chelli”, Dasaru converted his house into a Vittala temple. He installed an idol of Vittala in his house and showed a path to the future generation. Because of him Mysore is known as second Pundarapur. He has also given explicit meaning for the song “Dasanagu Vishesanagu” and has guided his disciples.

There is no doubt in the fact that, Guru Govinda Vittala dasaru is unmatched Haridasaru in the 20^th century. Dasaru has shown a lot of mercy on an ignorant person like me and has graced me with his blessings. He has sacrificed a lot. Meeting Dasaru was always heart-warming and he emphasised on upasane of the Supreme Lord. The meaning of the song “Phalavidu Baldudake”, has been the virtue of his life.

Dasaru was one of the last disciples of Sri Tande Muddu Mohana Vittala Dasaru who belongs to the Vijaya Prabu Parampare and who was the disciple of SriVara Vittala Dasaru and Sri Muddu Mohana Vittala Dasaru. With the ankitha of Guru Govinda Vittala, Dasaru got Haridasa deekshe and became a part of the Haridasa Parampare. Famously known as “Haridasa Kulatilaka”, Dasaru was one among the few who helped to spread awareness about Haridasa Sahitya and Dasakoota in Karnataka and especially, in Mysore. I bow my head in respect to the Dasaru who has the first position in the fifth stage (gatta) of Haridasa lineage.

I pray to God, let such people be born often and make our lives worth living. The purpose of this article is to inspire and show the right way to all the young and curious people out there.

Jai Paschima Ranga

Jai Bharateesha

Jai Vadirajaarpanamastu

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