This anthology provides a representative selection from the songs of three great singer-saints of sixteenth-century southern India. William Jackson translates the songs of Annamacharya, Purandaradasa, and Kanakadasa in an English that is sometimes startlingly contemporary and colloquial, capturing the essence of bhakti as a movement that belonged to the people, and spoke the language of the streets.

Jackson's illuminating essays on each of the singer-saints tells the story of their lives and the literature they originated. A general introduction and an essay on bhakti literature put the songs into their historical and literary context. This book will appeal to those interested in Indian literature, culture, music, history and Hindu saints.

(Note: Cover Painting: Purandaradasa by S. Rajam, inspired by the Haridas tradition, photographed by Ludwig Pesch.)

About the Author:

William J. Jackson is Professor in Department of Religious Studies, at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.

Experts from Reviews:

'The author has presented a moving and thought-provoking work. If life is merely a dream… it has… been painted here with brilliant colours.'

-The Statesman

'The author has given a life sketch of the three saints with translations of some select songs to bring out the core of their existence. The message of the songs is loud and clear.'

-The Hindu

Introduction

Dynamic Bhakti Images in the Songs of Annamacharya,
Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa

Annamacharya's Life

Annamacharya's Songs

Akativelalanalapaina Whenever you're hungry
Anni mantramulu I am saying every mantra
Bhavamulona bahyamunandunu Keep on singing 'Govinda…'
Cjamda mama Uncle Moon, come to me
Chudu dindaraku Gaze upon this venerable sage
Devadevambhaje I worship the Lord of Lords
Devesaganaradhita Shri Venkatagiri Nayaka
Dinudanenu I'm a little nobody
Dolayam Swing, Hari, swing and swing again
Ekkadi manusha jammamu It doesn't much matter
Ekulajudemi What if he's this, what if he's that
Indiraramanu dechchi Please bring the Consort of Lakshmi
Jaya Janakiramana Hail Rama, beloved of Janaki
Kondalo koyila When I heard the call
Kondalalo nelakonna The Lord of the temple bathing pool
Kshirabdhi kanyakaku Here is the camphor flame
Madhava bhavatu Glory be to Madhava
Manujudai putti Having been born as a mortal
Molla lele naku tanne What are these jasmine flowers for?
Muddugare Yashoda The Son of Devaki
Murahara nagadhara Killer of the demon Mura
Nanati baduku All that transpires in this world
Paluku tenela talli Our mother, whose words are sweet as honey
Sandehamu Doubt has vanished
Sharanu sharanu We surrender, we surrender
Shriman Narayana Shriman Narayana…I surrender
Suvvi suvvi suvvi 'Suvvi suvvi suvvi…' singing like this
Tanda-na-naahi God is only one
Valevalenani (Deshi Suladi) 'I want you, I need you!'

Purandaradasa's Songs

Adaddella Whatever has happened all has been for the best
Ambiga Yo Boatman, boatman!
Anjike yatakayya What is there to worry virtuous men?
Apamanavadare For him who takes God's holy name
Barida Time has passed and I've gone nowhere
Bevu bella dolida lenu phala What's the point of leaving a bitter neem leaf
Bhagyada Lakshmi Welcome to you, Goddess of fortune
Baiyiro baiyiro Go ahead, help yourself, harass me
Dariya Which way is the way to Vaikuntha
Dasana madiko Make me your slave
Dasayya Hey there dasa, if you come to my village
Dayamado dayamado Show mercy, show mercy
Dhaniye I feasted my eyes upon Lord Venkateshvara
Donku balada nayakare So what have you eaten today
Durdu But how is this?
Enayita What's going on here?
Giliyu O Lord, the bird has flown away
Gudasika O I didn't find the nest
Gudigudiyana Try putting some of this in your pipe
Guru vina O brother you will never find salvation
Harihari There's no special exclusive hour
Harinamadaraginiyu In this world the parrot of Hari's name
Harinarayana Harinarayana O my mind chant the name…
Hari Smarane Always remember the name of the Lord
Hasimayagutada O ma I am so hungry
Helabarada Could you not tell your child
Hyange barandito Earlier lives have written the lines
Idu bhagya This is happiness
Indu nanenu I don't know what good deed I've done
Innu daya barade Still your pity doesn't come
Irabeku illadirabeku The Haridasa should learn
Isa beku We should swim and we should win
Jaliya maradante In this world bad people are like Jali trees
Janara O all you people listen
Kala O I've wasted my time
Kallasakkare Have some sugar candy
Kanakadasa namela When Vyasamuni shows such high regard
Kanda beda O my child don't eat mud
Kande kande I saw! Saw him!
Kande karunanidhi I saw the ocean of mercy
Kandu kandu ni Seeing me again and again
Karunakaraka I really don't know why you're called 'Merciful One'
Kattabeku Tether the rebellious buffalo cow
Kurudunayi It is said a blind dog
Kusu Have you seen the adorable child
Kuttavaru It's all one
Madhavamathadolate The best matha is Madhava matha
Madi madi yendu Where do you get this madi?
Mana hinanige Can a man who has no self-respect
Mangala jaya mangala Auspicious, let the auspicious prevail
Marula madi O Lakshmi Goddess of illusion
Muttu kolliro Pearls for sale!
Mulama Some people may know hot to wash away dirt.
Muyyakke muyya Tit for tat O Lord of the universe
Na donkadareno What if I'm crooked
Nageyu baruthide It makes me want to laugh
Na madida karmaIf the deeds I've already done
Nambiketava Those who have faith in Lord Rangayya
Namma deva nimma deva 'My God', 'Your God'
Naneke Why should I feel forlorn
Nanenu madideno What have I done, O Lord Ranga
Narasimha You would do well to worship the feet
Narayana anabaroda What's your problem you can't say Narayana
Nayi bandadatta Some kind of dog is trotting this way
Ninya Why do I want you
Ragi tandira O, have you brought ragi gruel?
Ramanama payasa Add the sugar of Krishna nama
Ramanama ratnahara I received the diamond necklace
Sadhusajjana To be in the presence of sages
Sakala graha bala nine You alone are the power behind all the planets
Sanditayasa I am old now and time is passing by
Sharanu sharanu We surrender, we surrender
Smaranayonde Isn't remembrance enough
Summane baruvude Will liberation come to you for nothing?
Tala beku There should be: good rhythm
Tambulava kolloTake these betel leaves
Tandena I have seen Lord Krishna
Taraka bindya Please dear sister
Udaravairagya This is just belly vairagya
Vyapara namagayitu We've gone into business
Yadava ni ba Come to us, Yadava
Yakenani Lord why did you drag me to this kingdom?
Yarige Who is there for whom?
Yechcharita bhagyaledutu My Lord has made me a wandering fakir
Yellaru Everyone does all this for the belly
Ugabhogas
Jiva paratantra suladi My body and mind are at your mercy
Srishti Suladi I bow before your fierce Rudra face

Kanakadasa's Songs

Adigeyanu madabekannaAh my brother, I have to do some cooking
Ajnanigala Better to be at odds with the wise
Arigadaru It won't spare anybody
Aru hitavaru Don't be fooled and think 'That man wishes me well'
Aruballaru Hariharadigala Who could ever comprehend
How great Shiva and Vishnu are?
Badukidenu I am saved now I am saved
Bagilanu Kindly open the door
Bandevayya O money-lender we have come
Bhajisi badukelo Listen, people, get a life
Bombeyatavanadiside While Brahma and Shiva
Dasadasara I'm the son of a servant woman
Dasanagabeku sadasjovama Be a servant of Sadashiva
Dhareya bhogavanu Be careful, man
Eke nadugide O lovely lady Mother Earth
Ellaru maduvudu The things people do for their bellies!
Enandu kondare How shall I praise you
Enna kanda halliya hanuma Hey little kid, village Hanuman
Enu illada dinada Life lasts only a couple of days
Huva karuvara Me, I bring grass to the house of my betters
Hyange ni dasanadi How, O animal, did you become a dasa?
Ishtudina I used to think and say 'Vaikuntha is far far away'
Japava madidarenu So what if you say a mantra
Kande na tandatandada I saw the gods assembled
Kattava Even if you go to all sorts of trouble
Kelirai shivasharanaru I'm afraid to say it
Kula kula kulavendu Don't break your clan into warring factions
Kula kula kulavennu People often speak of 'Our community'
Maganinda gatiyunte Can you really get release
Mumana Will intelligent folk lodge
Mutta bandide A precious pearl has come
Nandinda I've come to this earth
Nannavva kalla bide Mama let me use the stone
Narayana emba namada The seed is 'Narayana'
Navu kurubaru nannu We are the Kuruba shepherd folk
Ni vayiyilaga Are you inside illusion
Prachina karmavada Man O man if past acts don't stop
Ramanujare namo namo O Ramanuja, incarnation of Lakshmana
Sadhu sajjana Satyagunakidirunte What could prevail against folks with devotion
Sahaja This statement is true
Saku saku Enough, enough of this serving fellow humans
Satyavantara When you have the fine companionship
Shiva Shiva Shiva enniro O people of the three worlds
Tallanisadiru Wait a minute mind
Tanu ninnadu It's all part of you
Varakavigala The mediocre man should never show off
Varava Bless me to be in your good graces
Vishvalokesha vishvalokesha Lord of all the universe
Yadavaraya brindavanalola O Madusudana!
Yake ninilli pavadiside O Pashchima Ranganatha
Yamadutarinnenu Lord of Lakshmi
Yelli nodidaralli Wherever I Look I see Rama