Suttur, August 3, 2026: Women Haridasas have made a commendable contribution to devotional literature, said Vidushi Sukanya Prabhakar while delivering a special lecture on the second day of the Bhajan Workshop organised by Jagadguru Sri Veerasimhasana Mahasamsthana Math, Sri Shivaratreeshwara Dharmika Datti, and JSS Mahavidyapeetha at Suttur Srikshetra on August 3.
She observed that, in the Karnataka Haridasa tradition, the contribution of women to devotional literature has been as significant as that of men. Through profound spiritual experiences in the world of devotion, they sought and realised the divine.
Referring to prominent women Haridasas, she said that Galagaliya Avva (Ramabai), Helavanakatte Girijamma, Harapanahalli Bhimavva, Nanjangud Thirumalamba, Bellary Radhabai, Kalasada Sundaramma, Ambabai, Gundamma, and Saraswatibai silently brought about a new social and spiritual awakening through their lives and compositions.
Vidushi Sukanya Prabhakar noted with concern that many women Haridasas were child widows. There were painful instances of adolescent girls being married to elderly men, and of young lives withering even before they could fully blossom. For many such women, service to Hari became a lifeline and a source of strength.
She said their devotion was deeply personal and emotional. They worshipped Hari as a father, conversed and argued with Him, sang and danced before Him, shared moments of humour, and, when confronted by the harshness of reality, laid their heads upon His shoulder and wept. Their devotion became both an expression of anguish and a means of finding solace.
The young women Haridasas, deeply affected by the oppressive and anti-life practices of society, questioned their fate and cried out, “Why was I not granted even a little renunciation, O God?” and “Who will save me from this unbearable world?”
She said that these women faced society in their own way, often without support from anyone. Although their lives were wounded by the harshness of social customs, they gave society a shower of flowers through their hymns and devotional compositions.
Describing their works as poetry of surrender, Vidushi Sukanya Prabhakar said that the life of each woman Haridasa was itself a poem. In their compositions, they became the heroines, while the only hero was the divine magician, Sri Krishna. Through their Bhajans, they proclaimed that Sri Krishna alone was their refuge.
Following the lecture, Srinivas Poojary Yarlapadi of Udupi and his team conducted dance and Bhajan training sessions. Uppunda Rajesh Padiyar also provided Bhajan training to the participants.