Early Days
Sri
Jagannatha Dasa was born on 27.07.1727 (Shravana Shudda Bidige, Keelaka
Samvatsara) started teaching his shishyas
at his own house at Byagavata initially. He was looking after the boarding and
lodging facility of all his shishyas.
He was a born as a rich Brahmin. Subsequently, with the increase in the number
of disciples, he shifted his teaching place to Manvi. He was very well versed
in Srimadacharyara Sarvamoola Granthas, Teekarayara Tippani Granthas,
Vyasathraya and Sri Gururaja’s Parimala, etc.
Once Sri
Vijayadasa had come to Manvi for Bhagavatha Mangala. He had invited Sri Srinivasacharya for Theertha prasada. At that time Sri Vijaya dasa was a great scholar in Haridasa
Keerthane. Unfortunately, Sri Srinivasacharya had developed an intense
dislike for Haridaasas, who he felt, were misrepresenting Dvaita philosophy. He was a
great sanskrit and dvaita scholar before getting Daasa Deekshya. He had ego about his knowledge and disliked the
Haridasas of that time. Sri Vijayadasa invited Srinivasacharya to come for the theertha
prasada and he had accepted to
attend for it and never turned up. So,
Vijayadasa had sent his disciple to
bring Srinivasacharya.
But
Srinivasacharya refused to come saying he is suffering from stomach
problem. After Srinivasacharya failed to turn up, Vijayadasa had the theertha prasada. From that day, Srinivasa developed intense
stomach problems which grew worse by the day, finally reaching unbearable condition.
Srinivasa went to Tirupathi, Ghatikaachala and Mantralaya, performing intense
Seva to Thimmappa, Narasimha Devaru, Vaayu Devaru and Sri Raya.
None of this helped in improving his health condition. Day by day, his health grew bad to worse. He
even thought of commiting suicide.
Sri Raya appeared in his dream and asked him to go to Sri Vijayadasa, who in turn, re-directed him to go
to Gopaladasa. Sri Gopaladasa
as per instructions of Vijaya Dasa,
donated 40 years of his Ayushya (life)
to Srinivasacharya. Deeply affected by the events in his recent past, Srinivasacharya,
decided to become a Haridaasa. Sri Gopala daasaru gave him Haridaasa Deekshe and directed him to Pandarapur for ankitha. There Srinivasacharya, found a stone bearing the words “Jagannatha
Vittala”. From that day, he started composing devotional works with that ankitha. He became renowned as
Jagannatha Daasaru.
Works
A) Harikathamruthasara is regarded as a great authority and standard
work of reference based on Srimad bhagavatha Dharma, by adherents of Dasa Koota. Harikathamruthasara
deals with Kakshya, Vyapthi and all information which has been conveyed in
Bhagavatha.
B) Thathvasuvvali – which contains
various shlokas in kannada, dashavatara varnana, mayavada khandana in Kannada
C) Suladigalu – He has written
many suladees
D) Ugabogalu – He has written many
ugabogas with four tstanzaa
E) Devaranamagalu – Hundreds of
devaranamas he has written on various aspects of Bhakthi, Jnana and Vairagya.
His devotees assemble and celebrate his aradhana with devotion in many places on Bhadrapada Shudda Navami.