KANAKADASA'S WINDOW

Even as you are reading this tale which has been keyed in using "Windows" on your screen, your personal "window" to the world, I would like to draw your attention to another " wonder window" which was opened by the very lord to his ardent devotee.

Those of you who have heard of or have been to the Krishna temple in Udupi in Karnataka must have found it a little odd to to have a glimpse of god's face through a tiny aperture at the back wall of the temple.

This small window also known as "Kanakana Kindi" which means Kanakadasa's window has a fascinating tale!

It is said that a scion of the Kaginele town in Karnataka is responsible for the presence of the window.

Five centuries ago, the warrior from the Nayaka understood the futility of war and he was not very happy with the caste system in the society either which made the lives of people born in lower castes quite miserable. He chose to take up the path of devotion and make the people around him realise that everyone is equal in the eyes of the creator.

He was Kanakadasa, the devotee who made the lord turn towards him. It is said that he was forbidden from entering the temple premises as he was born of a lower caste so he sadly made his way to the backyard of the temple and sang soulfully in praise of the lord.

Apparently the lord was pleased for he turned around in his idol form and created a hole in the wall to enable his favourite devotee to have a look at him. The people in power and the temple authorities realised the purity of his devotion and have ever since maintained the "Kindi" in the temple and the idol facing the back as it was, even to this day.

Kanakadasa was a unique teacher who did not run a school nor prescribe books to be read because he understood that many people around him were illiterates or were very busy with their daily business.

Therefore he chose to compose simple lyrics bearing social and spiritual messages in the local language Kannada and sing it tunefully to attract the attention of the people around him. The next time you happen to listen to the lyrics of Kanakadasa make sure that you note his signature phrase which says, "Kaginele Adi Keshava Raya" his home deity.

Besides composing simple songs he also composed a number of literary works based on mythology and contemporary society which are relevant to this day even after a good five hundred years! A little reflection on the story will reveal that Kanakadasa has been opening windows of many hearts and minds to broader and deeper thinking through his lyrical observations over the centuries !