Learn about Purandara Dasar, the great composer of Carnatic music who sang in Kannada and standardized the early music lessons. Discover his story of transformation, his devotion to Vishnu and Krishna, and his role as the Pithamaha of Carnatic music. Purandaradasa (flourished 16th century, India) was an Indian saint who was a major poet and composer of Haridasa devotional song, one of the major genres of Kannada literature. Purandara Dasa recognized music as a powerful medium for spiritual communication and social transformation. During his time, the common masses were excluded from its enchanting beauty, and music was confined to the elite. Sri Purandara Dasa was a renowned composer, singer, and a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. A devoted follower of Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy, he is widely celebrated as one of the chief architects of Karnatak (Carnatic) music.
