3rd March 1914-Sept 17th 2010
Not understanding , how to write about even few lines about such a Great Person , who was often addressed as “ The Walking God “ – “ Nadedaduva Devaru “
I have no direct association with Dr.Puttaraj Gawai, The content is sourced from various writings and articles on Sri Dr.Puttaraj Gawai.I am inspired and Motivated by the works of Sri Puttaraj Gawai , who will remain the source of Inspiration for Millions of people for Millions of years. Sri Dr.Puttaraj Gawai will be eternal.
Veerashaiva Lingayats Lost a Great saint, philospoher and guide.
I have heard, Once Sri Puttaraj , a Blind ,during his childhood was carrying a lit candle in his hand, few villagers asked , you are blind what’s the use this candle to you ? Pat came the answer , this is to show light to those with eyes , and true to his words he showed light to laks of people who have eyes and who do not .
Sri Puttaraj was born on 3rd March 1914 at Charantimanta, Hospet Village, Hangal Taluka of Dharwad District to a couple Siddamma and Revanayya. The child Puttayya had eyes till 6 months and lost his sight there after due to infection.
Puttya became Purraraja when he came in contact with Sri Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai Sri Puttaraj attained mastery over Hindustani and Carnatic music. Pleased by the intelligence and perseverance of this disciple, the Guru engaged different Pandits to teach him Kannada,Hindi and Sanskrit. Soon Puttayya became well versed in all these three languages. By the age of 27-28, Puttayya was a well educated youth, who could play Harmonium,Veena,Violin,Tabla and Mridangam.
If Guru was ‘Himadri’, the disciple was ‘Vidyadri’.When Puttayya accompanied Sri Panchakshara Gawai’s vocal recitals on Harmonium, music flowed like twin rivers Ganga and Jamuna.This unique experience of enjoying such recitals was offered to thousands of music fans within and outside Karnataka,Puttayya continued to learn from his Guru and teach the younger pupils,thus devoting to serve music and shone as the brightest disciple of his Guru.
In 1933 H.M.V. recording Company invited Puttayya and his Guru to Bombay where they sang ‘Kanganava Mora’ in Raag Kedari,”Chaina Nahin Mere” in Bhageshri and two Kannada Padas-“Magana Toogiro” and”DhyanavaMadiro”.
Theatre
Panchakshara Gawai was providing free food and shelter to hundreds of lame and blind orphans and educating them as well. This meant a great financial stress and the debts were mounting.So,Puttayya suggested that they form a drama company which will not only contribute to the culture of theatre but also bring in some profits.Thus,”SriGuru Kumareshwara Krupa Poshita Natya Company “was established. The first play “Sri Sivayogi Sidharama”;written and directed by Puttayya and staged in Naragunda was well received and brought in some much needed profit. This was followed by many other successful productions through which the drama company became famous in the state, the debts were cleared. The theatrical ventures of this blind author were appreciated by several renowned theatre personalities of those times like Handiganoor Siddaramappa,Garuda Sadashiv Rao,Kandagalla Hanumanth Rao,Nalavadi Srikanta Shastri and others. Young Puttayya composed many “chees”in Hindustani style of music and was called the Milton of Kannada.
Puttayya Becomes Guru Puttaraj
Panchakshara Gawai continued to serve the blind, orphans selflessly and dedicated his life to their welfare. As he was advancing in age, his health was suffering and he became weak. Still he relentlessly carried on his daily routine of worship and teaching the students. When he became too ill, he handed over the responsibility of his foster students to Puttayya and blessed him saying” You will not face as many difficulties as I had. You will succeed in your task and become famous as Puttaraj”.After naming Puttayya as the guru of “Sree Veereshwara Punyashrama”,Panchakshara Gavai attained his heavenly abode on 11-6-1944 while he was performing the ‘Linga Pooja’.When the bright sun (Panchakshara Gavai) set on the music horizon the moon,Puttaraj shone,spreading the cool moon light of culture.
Heading the Veereshwara Punyashrama
With the blessings of his Guru,Puttaraj strove to fulfill his responsibilities as the patron of hundreds of blind orphans. He pursued his spiritual life with dedication to ‘Linga Pooja’ and devoting enough time to serve music, literature and theatre.As a result, his works ‘Sangeet Shastra Jnana’.”Tabla Shikshaka” and “GuruSudha” Part 1 & 2 on music were completed. In Sanskrit he wrote “Shrimat Kumara Geetha”,”Kumareshwara Kavya”,”Shri Linga Sooktha”,”Tatparya Sahit Sri Rudra” and “Panchakshara Suprabhata”.In Hindi, he wrote “Basava Purana” (President Award winner)”Siddha Linga Vijaya”,”Sidhantha Shikamani” etc.In Kannada his works include “Akkamahadevi Purana”,”Haveri ShivabasavaPurana”, “Ankalagi Adavi Siddeswara Purana”, “Huchala Guru Siddeshwara Purana”, “Purathanara Purana”,Kalikeri Guru Mahima Purana”, “Veerabhadreshwara Purana”, “Sharana Basaveshwara Purana” and many more.He was honored with more than 100 titles like “Ubhaya Gayana Vadanacharya”, “Ganayogi”, “Kavishiromani”, Thribhasha KaviRathna” etc.He won many National Awards and was honoured by Sangeetha Nataka Acadamy,Sahitya Nataka Academy,Dharwad Karnataka University(Hon. Doctorate) and recently in99 during the Dasara Festival,Karnataks Government conferred oh him the first ever “Rajya Sangeetha Vidwan” title.
Journalistic Achievements
Puttaraja’s dream of releasing a magazine devoted to music,literature,theatre and religion was realized when the monthly ‘Panchakshara Prakasha’ was published from “Veereshwara Punyashrama” in 1969 and reached all nooks and corners of the state, spreading the fame and message of his Guru. The magazine is now being published as “Panchakshara Vani”.
Striving to Spread Guru’s fame all over the World
A life so pure and full of sacrifice, inspiring and educating many a needy orphan is rare to fine in today’s materialistic world. It is a fact that Dr.Puttaraj’s devotion and dedication to art and culture has not found a befitting encouragement and the right opportunities, with which his greatness now known only in his state would have spread all over the world. This is the sincere wish and dream of many loyal students, who founded “Shri Guru Panchakshara Seva Samithi” Gadag in 1985.The Samithi organized many music festivals in Delhi, Varnasi (UP),Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Bangalore,Madras and Gadag with the help of Karnataka Government.
The students staged a play”Ganayogi Panchakshra Mahime” in Gadag through which they reached their Guru’s glory to hundreds of people. This organization, comprising poor artists with a single-minded desire of spreading their guru’s glory far and wide is non-commercial and non-profit making. They have no reserve funds and are totally dependent on their guru’s grace and blessings. Their venture is supported by the generosity of patrons, political leaders and cultural authorities and their gesture has made it possible to hold the Centenary Celebrations at a National leveling Delhi.
Sri Dr. Puttaraja Gawai was conferred with India’s third largest Civilian order the Badma Bushan.
Sri Puttaraja Gawai who gave the Blind the Light by empowering them with Music and providing Light to thousands of his disciples.
Sri Purraraja worked relentless even at the age of 97 , working for the welfare of downtrodden and empowering his disciples with the Knowledge of Music.
Mother Earth has Lost her son who gave Light to lacs of People.
