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Purandara Dasa

Also: Sangita Pitamaha

Confidence: medium Last verified:

Period
died 1564; birth year disputed (proposals range from about 1470 to 1494)
Language(s)
Kannada

Biography

A Haridasa (devotional poet-singer) who worked under the Vijayanagara rulers and composed in Kannada. He received Haridasa initiation under Vyasatirtha at Hampi, according to the sources checked. His birthplace is disputed between sites in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Notable contributions

Credited with setting out the graded teaching path still used today: note exercises (sarali and janta varisai), alankaras, simple songs, and the use of Mayamalavagowla for first lessons. Many musicologists call him Sangita Pitamaha.

References for this page

Type at least two letters. Try a raga name, a tala, or a word like "gamaka".