Long long ago there was a man called Thimmappa Nayaka. He lived in a town called Kaginele in India. His family grew sheep and he was a chief in the King's army. Whenever the King asked him he would go and fight. One day, he was fighting a big battle and his side was badly defeated. While he was sitting and thinking about what happened, he thought about his life. Should he go on fighting wars for a king? That only made the kingdom bigger, it did not help the people. What was the use of fighting? Then it occured to him that he should become a good person and live the rest of life praying to God.
After that time he took the name of Kanaka Dasa. He started going around the countryside singing. He would make up beautiful songs to Kaginele Keshava (Krishna). He would sing it in temples and he used to teach people that it did not matter if you had a lot of money or a lot of stuff. What was more important was the kindness in a person's heart. People loved his music and while enjoying the music, they also learnt to be good people.
One day he went on a piligrimage all the way to Udipi which had a very beautiful Krishna temple. He walked all the way to Udipi for many many days and finally reached the temple. He was so happy and ran to the door of the temple to see Krishna's image.
But, there was a guard at the door of the temple. The guard said, 'Hey poor man, you cannot come inside.'. Kanaka said "Why? I want to see Krishna's image inside the temple'. The guard said 'No, only some people from some important families can come inside. You cannot come inside'. Kanaka said 'But that not fair! All people are the same in God's eyes. We are all made by the same God. Please let me in'. But the guard would not let him in. He said 'Now, go away. I dont want to see you again'.
Kanaka was so sad. He slowly went away from the door. There was a tree behind the temple. So Kanaka sat underneath it and started praying to Krishna. As he was praying, a beautiful song in his mind and he started singing. "Please open the door to me Oh Lord and let me see you. I have come a long way looking for you. Please let me see you.' He sang and he sang and he sang. It got dark and Kanaka was alone by himself under the tree and he kept singing. "I have been calling you for so long, did you not hear my voice".
All of a sudden he opened his eyes for some reason. Guess what! He saw that the wall of the temple had cracked and there was a hole in it. Kanaka walked closer and took a peek. He could see the light from the lamp inside the temple. And there was the Krishna image! Kanaka could see that the image seemed to be bending towards him to give him a better view! It did not matter if the priests did not want him to come inside the temple. God wanted to show himself to Kanaka!
Kanaka continued to sing about God and teaching everybody about how all people are equal. You dont have to belong to some important family to see Good. Everybody in the world is equal in God eyes.
People still sing those beautiful songs of Kanaka Dasa till today. The beautiful Udipi temple is still there. Do you know, even today, when you go to the the Udipi temple, you have to first look at Krishna's image through the little window of Kanaka and only then go inside? We do that to remind ourselves that all people are equal.
After that time he took the name of Kanaka Dasa. He started going around the countryside singing. He would make up beautiful songs to Kaginele Keshava (Krishna). He would sing it in temples and he used to teach people that it did not matter if you had a lot of money or a lot of stuff. What was more important was the kindness in a person's heart. People loved his music and while enjoying the music, they also learnt to be good people.
One day he went on a piligrimage all the way to Udipi which had a very beautiful Krishna temple. He walked all the way to Udipi for many many days and finally reached the temple. He was so happy and ran to the door of the temple to see Krishna's image.
But, there was a guard at the door of the temple. The guard said, 'Hey poor man, you cannot come inside.'. Kanaka said "Why? I want to see Krishna's image inside the temple'. The guard said 'No, only some people from some important families can come inside. You cannot come inside'. Kanaka said 'But that not fair! All people are the same in God's eyes. We are all made by the same God. Please let me in'. But the guard would not let him in. He said 'Now, go away. I dont want to see you again'.
Kanaka was so sad. He slowly went away from the door. There was a tree behind the temple. So Kanaka sat underneath it and started praying to Krishna. As he was praying, a beautiful song in his mind and he started singing. "Please open the door to me Oh Lord and let me see you. I have come a long way looking for you. Please let me see you.' He sang and he sang and he sang. It got dark and Kanaka was alone by himself under the tree and he kept singing. "I have been calling you for so long, did you not hear my voice".
All of a sudden he opened his eyes for some reason. Guess what! He saw that the wall of the temple had cracked and there was a hole in it. Kanaka walked closer and took a peek. He could see the light from the lamp inside the temple. And there was the Krishna image! Kanaka could see that the image seemed to be bending towards him to give him a better view! It did not matter if the priests did not want him to come inside the temple. God wanted to show himself to Kanaka!
Kanaka continued to sing about God and teaching everybody about how all people are equal. You dont have to belong to some important family to see Good. Everybody in the world is equal in God eyes.
People still sing those beautiful songs of Kanaka Dasa till today. The beautiful Udipi temple is still there. Do you know, even today, when you go to the the Udipi temple, you have to first look at Krishna's image through the little window of Kanaka and only then go inside? We do that to remind ourselves that all people are equal.
