This article is about Dhurjati, one of the Ashtadiggajas of the Vijayanagara empire, and his literary contributions and the books he wrote.
Who was Dhurjati?
Dhurjati, was a shaiva poet from the holy temple town of Sri Kalahasti in Chittor, near Tirupathi. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Kalahasteeswara. He got accolades from Krishnadevaraya for his book Kalahasti Mahatmya and a sataka on the Kalahasti shrine.
Early life of Dhurjati in the court of Krishnadevaraya
Initially Dhurjati basked in the fame and praise from Krishnadevaraya. He also had his share of sensual pleasures and worldly success. Folk tales paint him as an obsessed man and a regular patron of the high class prostitutes of the city.
Once in his court, Krishnadevaraya asked, “How is Dhurjati’s poem so immeasurably sweet and beautiful?” To this question, Tenaliraman intervened and playfully replied, “Maharaj! Dhurjati’s poem are sweet because of the honey he drank from the lips of so many beautiful courtesans”. The above incidence only shows his reputation among his fellow poets.
Dhurjati – A changed man
It is likely that with time his focus and attention shifted towards bhakti where he found eternal pleasure as against the momentarily pleasures of the carnal love.
Dhurjati, remained baffled with God’s way of so many diversions and lures even for those who want to attain him and in one of his poem he questions Lord Shiva, “Why humans are provided with senses, passions and questions the God-given frailty of human emotions?”
We all take pleasure in seeing and smelling,
and hearing and tasting,
And the touch of skin pressing against skin,
Why you have made us with these senses
if our using them is a sin ?
What do you gain, O lord of Kalahasti,
by playing these games of illusions,
for your own amusements
to while away the time
( From the book: For the Lord of the Animals ; Poems from the Telugu: The Kāḷahastīśvara Śatakamu of Dhūrjaṭi)
However, all these eventually ended; He rose above sensual pleasures and deep religious connect drove him to Srikalahasti to seek an end to the enslavement of power, lust and women.
Unlike most of the poets of his time who have chosen stories inspired by kings for their work, he choose devotion and complete surrender as the theme of his poem.
Dhurjati – A rebellion Poet
His poem shows his anger about everything around him, even the royalty of the day and his aversions to the way of the world. It seems Dhurjati underwent a transformation from court poet to a temple poet.
Kings are petty and foolish,
their service is hellish,
and their gifts all –
beauties, chariots, gems and jobs at best,
seeds of mental torture
enough of them I had
I stand here waiting Lord,
Show me the path that leads to you the fastest.
The recurrent theme in his poems is the futility of the royal favor, worldly success, lure of women and family bonding. Dhurjati, felt that its foolishness to waste time in their pursuit. The real nectar comes when a person devotes himself in the service of the Lord.
O Lord! I have lost my duty to you
having drunk the liquor of worldly illusions
Yet, even if I had lost my sense and ignored you
It is unjust that you foresake me
Will a father not save his playing son
if he accidentally falls in a pit
Why did you foresake me father.
Was there a rift between Dhurjati and Krishnadevaraya?
From his poems it appears that he generated hatred and disliking for Krishnadevaraya and there was a rift between the two. However, it might be more of devotion for almighty compared to the mortal kings.
Dhurjati’s grandson Venkataraya (alias Kumara Dhurjati) wrote Krishnadevaraya Vijayam, a book that praises the emperor Krishnadevaraya and provides valuable historical information about his reign.
If there would have been a real issue between the Dhurjati and Krishnadevaraya, it is highly unlikely that Kumara Dhurjati would have chosen him as the subject of his work.
Dhurjati’s book Kalahasti Mahatmya
Dhurjati’s book Kalahasti Mahatmya is about the temple town, its legends and myths and about the deity of SriKalahastiswara (lord Shiva). The verses of the poem are replete with rich allusion, imagery and devotion.
The message that comes out from his poems is that one has to go beyond the seven oceans of mere knowledge and all the hills of ritualistic striving to attain the feet of the Lord with absolute devotion and utter self-surrender.
The Lore behind the name SriKalahastiswara
The lore behind the name SriKalahastiswara of the deity is that once there were three creatures, a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala) and an elephant (Hasti); all three of them were ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.
One day, they had rivalry among them and Sri and Kala thought of teaching a lesson to the Hasti; they entered inside elephant’s trunk; this caused immense pain to the elephant and he smashed his trunk on a boulder. It killed all three of them.
The Significance of this lore
However, as they were the ardent devotees, Lord Shiva gave them the nirvana. This lore emphasize that for the lord there is no distinction between the smallest and the greatest of his creation. It also emphasizes that for the lord there is no distinction, but if the devotees fight among themselves they have to bear the pains of their karma.
It is believed that it was the same deity whom Kannappa Nayannar also worshiped.
About Dhurjati’s book: Sri Kalahasteeswara Satakam
The book Sri Kalahasteeswara Satakam, contains around 100 verses in praise of Lord Shiva. Satakam means hundred or more verses usually hundred and sixteen verses, all based on single or connected theme.
These satakas of Dhurjati are deeply religious, most inspired, mellifluous and hence even today they are very popular.
As the great lightening clouds of lust and passion burst down in torrential sin
I lost the balance of my lotus mind Lord!
Let for a while your kindly autumnal time set in
That in peace I may serve you
Leaving all my cares behind
Oh! Lord of Srikalahasti.
Dhurjati is also credited for the Chatuvus, a form of standalone extempore poems in Telugu.
