Translated from - kendasampige.com. Original Article in Kannada by Dr. B. Janardhana Bhat
Haridasa Pavanje Sri Lakshminaranappayya was born in 1854 at Attur near Mulki in Dakshina Kannada as the second son of Sri Venkatakrishnayya of the Sthanika Brahmin community. Because he made the Pavanje temple his abode in his advanced age, he came to be known as 'Haridasa Pavanje Lakshminaranappayya.' When this temple was built (constructed by the family into which Haridasa had married his daughter), he settled there upon the insistence of his community members and eventually willed all his property to the temple. The 'Satsanga Seva Samiti' established by his family continues to conduct commemorative and culturally significant activities centered around this temple.
His early life unfolded as follows: At the age of eight, young Lakshminarayana was given in adoption to his paternal uncle, Sitaramayya, who performed his sacred thread ceremony (Brahmopadesha). When he was ten, his biological father Venkatakrishnayya passed away. Traumatized by this loss, the boy became inert like Jadabharata. His adoptive uncle and aunt neglected him. One day, without informing anyone, the boy left home alongside a group of pilgrims. His family made no effort to search for him. Wandering with bairagis (itinerant ascetics), Lakshminarayana reached Kashi (Varanasi), where he found shelter at the Kashi Math. News of his spiritual rebirth there never reached his native village.
His Guru: Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji
Pavanje Lakshminarayana was a disciple of Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha of Sri Kashi Math. Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha was a pontiff of the Madhva (Dvaita) tradition. Sri Kashi Math of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community is a monastic seat with a glorious heritage. In this lineage, Srimad Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji (1837–1886) was a renowned, multifaceted scholar. For nearly eighteen years, from around 1864 to 1882, the Swamiji gave shelter to Pavanje Lakshminarayana, educated him, and initiated him into the Haridasa order.
In several keertanas, Haridasa praises his Guru, Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha, and propounds his Guru's Dvaita philosophy and the supremacy of Lord Hari (Hari Sarvottamatva), even though his birth community (Sthanika or Shiva Brahmins) adhered to the Advaita tradition.
One Keertana - Kandu kritarthanade, Bhuvanendraranghriya | Pavanje Lakshminarayanappa
Young Lakshminarayana received instruction from Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji in Sanskrit language and classical poetry. Later, presumably under the direction of the Kashi Math pontiff, he received Harikatha training from the Harikatha exponent Siddhapura Venkataramana Prabhu.
Return and Spontaneous Devotion
Having attained the gift of extempore poetry through his Guru's grace, Haridasa Lakshminaranappayya reappeared in his native region after eighteen years—in 1882—around the Karkala Venkataramana Temple, performing Hari-keertana looking like a mendicant and an avadhuta. When inspired, he composed and sang keertanas dedicated to deities like Srinivasa and Lakshminarayana. At times he entered meditative trances (bhava-samadhi) right where he sat; when hungry, he ate whatever was served, and at other times went without food for days. The people of Karkala initially regarded him as an avadhuta or an eccentric, unaware that the songs he sang were his own compositions.
After two months, following a divine indication from 'Kalabhairava' of the Venkataramana Temple (as recorded by Belle Bhujanga Rao and Divakara Bhat), the temple trustees (moktesaras) brought Haridasa before the deity. There, he spontaneously composed and sang a keertana.
From that day onward, Haridasa received the support of the trustees of Karkala Venkataramana Temple and the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin community. The Harikatha discourses he began at the sanctum captivated the people of Karkala, and his fame spread across Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts through the GSB community. He was invited to major centers of the community—such as Karkala, Bantwal, Mulki, Kumta, Bhatkal, and Mangalore—to conduct week-long Harikatha sessions (saptahas). His discourses served as a soothing balm for souls weary of worldly life.
He resided in Karkala for many years, traveling voluntarily through the villages of Karkala, Mulki, Mangalore, and Udupi taluks to spread devotional culture. His Harikatha performances were held across Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and even distant Bombay (Mumbai).
During his travels, Haridasa visited local village temples, composed songs praising the resident deities, and prayed for divine grace upon the village. Deeply moved, local villagers began inviting him, arranging his discourses, and transcribing by hand all the devotional compositions he sang to integrate them into daily household singing. However, there is no record of Haridasa himself ever documenting or compiling his own compositions.
His deep knowledge of Sanskrit, spontaneous poetic gift, musical command over raga, tala, and rhythm, mastery of the Vedas and Puranas, and above all, his intense love and devotion toward God led him toward a life of renunciation and detachment, elevating him to the rank of a true 'Haridasa.'
The Householder Haridasa
Haridasa had no interest in worldly domestic life. However, yielding to the pressure of relatives, he entered householder life (grihastha) at age 36 (in 1890). Four years after marriage, his first wife passed away. Relatives persuaded him to marry a second time. Through his second wife, he had two daughters (Seetha and Krishnaveni) and a son; the son passed away in infancy.
Haridasa grew completely detached from domestic life and traveled the country for seven to eight years without informing anyone. Wandering with bands of ascetics, traveling with the entourage of the Kashi Math pontiff, and occasionally visiting home briefly, he gradually lost the affection and regard of his family and kin. Records show he performed Harikatha in distant cities like Bombay during this period. Over time, having depleted all his resources, he was reduced to begging like a mendicant.
His life was burdened by suspicion, neglect, slander, reproach, and the sorrow of having no one to rely upon. During such trials, he composed numerous keertanas seeking divine refuge.
Haridasa wandered in this manner for nearly eight years. After those difficult days passed, he returned to his hometown around 1905. Upon his return, he stayed for eight months in the sanctum of the Karkala Venkataramana Temple. In the past, he had faithfully set aside offerings (mudipu) every Saturday for Tirupati; however, due to extreme poverty, he was forced to spend even that reserved offering, which broke his Saturday single-meal vow (ekabhukta vrata). The realization that he had consumed the money dedicated to Venkataramana for his own sustenance—and that his succession of hardships had stemmed from this act—began gnawing at his mind. Standing in the presence of Karkala Venkataramana, recollecting all his transgressions and seeking forgiveness, he sang a song of repentance.
Tappugaḷellava oppugoḷḷayya Shrī Chappara Srīnivāsa | Pavanje Lakshmi Narayanappa
Reflecting the adage "Repentance itself is the atonement," he laid bare all his faults without concealment. It is said that Kalabhairava of the temple appeared in his dream and instructed him that if he composed verses describing the Karkala Deepotsava (Festival of Lights), the fear of sin would be washed clean from his mind. Inspired by Kalabhairava, Haridasa composed nearly a hundred vivid verses portraying the Deepotsava celebrated from the first lunar day (Pratipada) to the full moon (Purnima).
After this, his mind attained tranquility.
Return and Public Service
Upon returning home for the second time, he arranged the marriages of his daughters. From around 1905–06 for nearly eighteen years across the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, he dedicated himself to conducting Harikatha discourses. He addressed the worldly afflictions of common folk, imparted teachings on both temporal and spiritual life, and guided people onto the righteous path. Consequently, he earned the reverence of everyone from the illiterate to celebrated scholars.
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| Haridas Lakshmi Narayanappa |
Pen Name (Ankita)
Pavanje used his own name, "Lakshminarayana," as his ankita (signature line). Regardless of which deity a keertana was addressed to, in alignment with the Dvaita philosophical tenet of Hari Sarvottamatva (the absolute supremacy of Lord Hari), he would address that deity as Sri Hari's companion, consort, servant, sister, brother, or grandchild, concluding the song with the signature "Lakshminarayana." Across all four languages—whether composing bhajans, Harikatha songs, rhyming letters, lullabies, or playful wedding tease songs—he consistently appended the ankita Lakshminarayana.
In his daily household worship, he concluded his prayers with keertanas rather than Vedic mantras. His compositions clearly reflect his mastery of Sanskrit acquired at Kashi. While appearing as simple Kannada bhajans on the surface, understanding the exact import of the words he selected demands deep contemplation or guidance from scholars. Despite this erudition, he humbly stated: "I possess not even an ounce of the virtue found in great Haridasas like Kanaka and Purandara."
Around 1914, when the construction of the Sri Jnana Shakti Subrahmanya Swami Temple began in Pavanje, he yielded to the persuasion of well-wishers and made it his base, continuing his itinerant Harikatha tours across villages as before.
One night, a massive tree collapsed onto his house while he was asleep, and it was a miracle that he and his wife survived. A keertana composed on that occasion exists as well.
Having lost his house to the fallen tree, Haridasa was given shelter at the Pavanje Subrahmanya Temple. Vasu Bhat, the temple's founder, arranged for him to stay in the room at the northeast corner of the outer veranda (pauli). Until the temple's renovation in 2005, this room was called "Haridasara Kone" (Haridasa's Room). Inside a large wooden chest (kalembi—a bench-sized wooden box that could double as a bed), Haridasa kept a secure iron box where he stored the money collected during his travels.
One day, when the collected money disappeared, he discovered that the culprits were six relatives who had posed as his close confidants. Instead of growing angry, he viewed the six individuals as the six internal vices (arishadvargas) and reflected that his own unruly five senses had deceived and punished him.
In 1922, Haridasa willed all his movable and immovable properties to the temple. He passed away (attained Vaikuntha) in 1924.
History of the Collection of His Songs
Pavanje Haridasa Lakshminaranappayya was a rare multilingual poet fluent in Sanskrit, Kannada, Konkani, and Tulu. He rarely wrote down his compositions; songs flowed spontaneously in rhythm and meter when inspiration struck, and listeners transcribed them.
Between 1910 and 1920, community members often invited him for meals, prepared his favorite dishes (such as patrode), and noted down the verses he recited.
Major print compilations through which his works have been preserved include:
Karkala Deepotsava Padagalu (Verses on Karkala Deepotsava) – Compiled by K. P. Kamath, Maruthi Press, Karkala, 1922 (Price: 6 Annas).
Sri Hari Keertanavali – Compiled by B. Krishna Prabhu, Victoria Press, Bantwal, 64 pages, 1926.
Haridasara Keertanegalu – Compiled by K. Venkatacharya, Ondanne Male (175), Prabhatha Office, Car Street, Mangalore, 1958.
Biography of Haridasa Pavanje Lakshminaranappayya and Selected Bhajans – Belle Bhujanga Rao, B.A., Ondanne Male (206), Prabhatha Office, Mangalore, 1958.
Haridasara Keertanegalu (Part 1) – Compiled by K. Venkatacharya, Ondanne Male (270), Prabhatha Office, Mangalore, 1960.
Haridasara Keertanegalu (Part 2) – Compiled by K. Venkatacharya, Ondanne Male (271), Prabhatha Office, Mangalore, 1960.
Bhajan Songs of Haridasa Pavanje Lakshminaranappayya (Part 4) – Belle Bhujanga Rao, B.A., Ondanne Male (328), Prabhatha Office, Mangalore, 1961. (Note: Classified as 'Part 4' taking into account the three compilations by K. Venkatacharya. If counting Belle Bhujanga Rao's initial short biographical booklet containing keertanas, this represents the fifth collection in the Ondanne Male series).
Pavanje Haridasavani – Compiled and published by Satsanga Seva Samiti, Haleyangadi, 1978.
Haridasa Keertana: Collected Works of Pavanje Haridasa – Edited by Prof. Heranje Krishna Bhat and Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, H.K.B. Felicitation Committee, Udupi, 2005.
Pavanje Haridasa Lakshminaranappayya: Renowned Haridasa and Extempore Poet – Dr. H. Divakara Bhat, Kannada Sangha, Kantavara, 2018.
The Pavanje Sri Subrahmanya Temple administration established the 'Pavanje Haridasa Lakshminaranappayya Cultural Forum', which honors aging artists and provides financial assistance. The early preservation work by K. P. Shenoy, Krishna Prabhu, K. Venkatacharya, Belle Bhujanga Rao, Kudpi Vasudeva Shenoy (Ondanne Male), and the Satsanga Samiti of Haleyangadi, followed by modern scholarly editions by Prof. Heranje Krishna Bhat, Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, and Dr. Divakara Bhat Yaji, ensured that his legacy remains accessible today.
