Sri Gopaladasa, the disciple of Sri Vijayadasa, is well know for his unique devotional songs.
One of his famous suLAdis, a vivid description of a horseman who rode from nowhere & sped away in no time is the topic of this small write-up.
The said suLAdi that beings with the following lines -
"ನೀಲಗುದುರೆಯನ್ನೇರಿ ಶಾಲು ಸೊಂಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸುತ್ತಿ" i.e. "[He came] riding a black horse, having tied a cloth around waist."
DETAILS OF THE HORSEMAN:
The entire narration or the description of the horseman that approached Sri Gopaladasa fits well with the Maratha cavalryman's attire of those times.
The descriptions such as the turban, sword, the shield and other such information is similar to the attire of a Maratha cavalryman available in other contemporary sources.
The first charana of the Suladi gives full description of the cavalryman:
ನೀಲಗುದರನ್ನೇರಿ ಶಾಲು ಸೊಂಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸುತ್ತಿ
ಕಾಲುಕುಪ್ಪಸ ತೊಟ್ಟು ಮೇಲೆ ಮೋಹನ್ನ ಹಾಕಿ
ಓಲ್ಯಾಡಿಸುತ್ತ ಒಂಟಿ ಢಾಳಾಗಿ ಶೋಭಿಸಲು
ಸಾಲು ಬೆರಳುಂಗುರ ಕೈಲಿ ಖಡ್ಗವ ಪಿಡಿದು
ತೋಳು ತಾಯಿತ ಶಿರಕೆ ಮೇಲಾದ ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಸುತ್ತಿ
ಫಾಲ ಕಸ್ತೂರಿನಿಟ್ಟು ಮೈಲಿ ಗಂಧವ ಪೂಸಿ
ಪಾಲಾಯನದಿ ಅಶ್ವವೇರಿ ಓಲ್ಯಾಡಿಸುತ್ತ
’ಆಲೆನಾಹಿ’ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದವನಾರವ್ವ
ವೇಳೆ ಸಾಲಧ್ಹೋಯಿತು ಕೇಳುವದಕ್ಕೆನಗೆ
ಹೇಳುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ವಚನ ಗದ್ಗದದಿ
ಏಳದು ವಚನ ಉಚ್ಛರಿಸುವೆನೆನಲು
ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ಅತಿವಿಚಿತ್ರವು
ಕೇಳಿಲ್ಲ ಕಂಡಿಲ್ಲ ಇಂಥ ಪುರುಷನ್ನ ಎಂದೂ
ಕಾಳಗತ್ತಲು ಅಲ್ಲ ಅತ್ತ ನೋಡು ಹಗಲು
ಕೇಳು ತಗ್ಗು ಮಿಟ್ಟೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಂಜುರವಲ್ಲ
ಹೇಳಲೇನಿದು ಒಂದು ಸೋಜಿಗವು ಕಾಲು
ಏಳವು ಮುಂದೆ ನಡೆಯಲು ಎನಗಿನ್ನು
ಆಲೋಚನೆಯೆಲ್ಲ ಅತ್ತಲಾಗಿ ಎನ್ನ
ಕೇಳಿದನಲ್ಲೆ ಅರೆ ಮಾತಿನಿಂದಲಿ ಎನ್ನ
ಹೇಳುವ ಪುರುಷನು ಅವನಾಗುವನು
ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ಎನಗೆ ತೋರುತಲಿದೆ ತುಲಸಿ-
ಮಾಲೆ ಪರಿಮಳ ಗಂಧ ಕುರುಹದಿಂದ
ಶೀಲಮೂರುತಿ ಪಂಡರಿರಾಯ ಗೋಪಾಲವಿಠಲ
ಓಲ್ಯಾಡಿ ಕುದುರೆ ಓಲ್ಯಾಡಿಸುತ್ತ ಪೋದನಲ್ಲೆ
Translation:
"Mounted on a black horse, tied a shawl around [his] waist
Wearing the socks and charm
With shining earrings
Rings in all fingers, holding a sword
With an amulet, having a turban on head
Kasturi on forehead and smearing body with sandal-paste
Seated on a mount and riding the horse
Who is that person that asked [me] "Are you not coming?"
Could not enquire about him due to lack of time
[My] voice was trembling to ask
Sound could not come out
A strange [phenomenon] to think that
"Never heard, never saw such a man"
Listen, it wasn't dark but a bright day
Or not even ups & downs
What else to say but a surprise, [my] leg
Doesn't move to walk for me
[While I was] Stuck in the thoughts,
That person who spoke in Are (Marathi) language [to me], who he could be?
After [much] thought and going by the hints such as Tulasi garland and the body scent
[It must be] The Pandariraya, Gopala Vitthala,
Who rode away riding a horse"
COMPARISON:
Let us look at the image of Maratha cavalryman [given below] and compare the same with Sri Gopaladasa's description.
THE LANGUAGE USED BY THE HORSEMAN
Another interesting aspect of this description - is the spoken language of the horsemen. According to Sri Gopaladasa the cavalryman shouted at him in Aare language. Sri Dasa heard him saying "आले नाहि" meaning "not coming [to see me]"
From the Vijayanagara inscriptions that are posterior to Sri Gopaladasa address Marathas as Aare people.
In 18th century too and as demonstrated in this kriti, Marathi language was still known by its old name i.e. Aare (ಆರೆ).
Thus the description by Sri Gopaladasa that the horseman spoke in Aare Bhasha is quite factual.
*****
OTHER SOURCES:
The life history of Sri Gopaladasa affirm that he was well trained in horse riding. Bhaganna, as he was known before becoming Dasa, was regularly undertaking long rides.
Thus it can be assumed that during one such outings by the Sri Gopaladasa this fabled enconter with a strange looking, handsome cavalryman must have happened!
Dr. N.K. Ramasheshan, in his research work "Haridasa Sahitya Andolana - Ondu Adhyayana" (A Study of Haridasa Movement) stated that Sri Gopaladasa visited many sacred places but didn't go to Pandharapur. As a result, he encountered a strange looking cavalryman that questioned the Dasaru "Are you not coming?" [to Pandharapur].
From all above it becomes certain that Sri Gopaladasa came in contact with a peculiar person and he was none other than Panduranga Vitthala Himself!
Sri Gopaladasa, in his unique composition, provides several hints that led him to conclude the curious-looking horseman as Vitthala.
He describes "ಎನಗೆ ತೋರುತಲಿದೆ ತುಲಸಿ-ಮಾಲೆ ಪರಿಮಳ ಗಂಧ ಕುರುಹದಿಂದ" i.e. "Going by the clues i.e. Tulasi garland and the [body] scent" he could able to identify the horse-raider as Vitthala of Pandharapur.
Obviously, an ordinary horseman doesn't wear an odd-looking garland made with Tulasi leaves!
*****
CONCLUSION:
This unique Suladi is full of concrete imagery of a strange looking horseman. It also presents the realisation donned up on Sri Gopaladasa that the person was none other than Panduranga Vitthala.
The rest of the composition is the lament of Sri Gopaladasa for not speaking with his beloved Vitthala.
Thus this unique song composed by Sri Gopaladasa is a rare account of a close encounter with Paramatma appearing in human form.
Gopaladasa asks Vitthala that "its not fair to tease a bhakta by appearing in human form." He finally concludes "Gopalavitthala questioned me for not coming [to see him at Pandharapur]."
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