Article Title: Kanaka Dasa
11-11-2022
History & Art and Culture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? PM pays floral tributes to the statues of saint poet Sri Kanaka Dasa and Maharshi Valmiki at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru
Kanaka Dasa:
This festival is celebrated by people of Karnataka and Kuruba community in Karnataka.
It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of saint Kanaka Dasa, 11 November every year.
In tribute to him, Government of Karnataka has declared this day as state holiday.
Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609) was a Haridasa saint and philosopher, popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa.
He was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician.
He is known for his keertanas and ugabhoga, and his compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music.
He used simple Kannada language for his compositions. He was born in Baada village, near Bankapura. The saint was warrior at Bankapura fort.
Kanaka Dasa had advocated social equality and justice through kirtans.
He preached the importance of devotion, internal purity and criticised the discrimination based on caste.
Early works of the saint include poems like Ramadhyana Mantra, Narasimha stotra, and Mohanatarangini.
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