Kanaka Dasa

Kanaka Dasa (c. 1508–1606), born Thimmappa Nayaka near Haveri, was a Haridasa saint, poet and musician of the Dvaita Vedanta school. Tradition relates that he served as an army commander until defeat in battle turned him to religious life, when he became a disciple of Vyasatirtha.

He composed keertanas and ugabhogas in simple Kannada using native metrical forms. With Purandara Dasa he contributed to the foundations of Carnatic music and became known as one of the twin poets of Haridasa devotional literature.