Kanakadasa Adhyayana Samshodhana Pitha has been established to undertake study & research on the life and literature of Kanakadasa, the best known Haridasa. Kanakadasa was a great poet, philosopher and composer from Karnataka (16th Century). The Project is funded by the Government of Karnataka.

Udupi is the land of Lord Sri Krishna. Kanakadasa, one of the great Haridasas of Karnataka has a special association with Lord Krishna of Udupi. Srikrishna was his Aradhyadaiva. Hence Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre, MGM College, Udupi has planned to take up the project of undertaking study and research on the life and contributions of Kanakadasa. The project has been funded by Government of Karnataka.

Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre is a sister concern of MGM College and has been involved in research activities since its inception. Major areas of research are literature, history, art and culture of the coastal belt of Karnataka. The centre has taken up the research project on Kanakadasa in 2008-09