Purandara Dāsa (1484 - 1564) (sometimes spelled as a single word) was one of the most prominent composers of Carnatic music and's widely regarded as the "father of Carnatic Music". Purandara Dasa addressed social issues in addition to worship in his compositions, a practice emulated by his younger contemporary, Kanaka Dasa. Purandara Dasa's Carnatic music compositions are mostly in Kannada; some are in Sanskrit. He signed his compositions with the mudra (pen name), "Purandara Vittala" (Vit… (More on Purandaradasa)