Page 12 - 3. August 2016

ಸಿಂಪುಟ ೬, ಸಿಂಚಿಕ ೮, ಆಗಸ್ಟ್, ೨೦೧೬

Basavanna’s Vachanas - My perspective and interpretation - Dhruti Bhatta
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(First Price winning article on Vachana Essay compitation-2016)
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Vachana sahitya is a form of art that developed in the 11th century ad flourished during the 12th century (during the Sharna Move-
ment). Vachana means’ (that which is) said”.
A vachana is a brief paragraph that includes spiritual thoughts and offers Pooja to Shiva, the highest physical manifestation of the one
supreme lord. A vachana author can be identified by their style of invocation: - Basavanna invokes “Koodala Sangama Deva”,
Allama Prabhu invokes “Guheshvara” and Akkamahadevi used “Channamallikarjuna”.

Basavanna was born and brought up in a high case Brahmin family. His vachanas dwelled on
the vanity of riches, the valuelessness of mere rites and book learning, the uncertainty of life, and
the spiritual privileges of being Shiva Bhakta. His philosophy revolved around treating the body

and soul as a temple over constructing idols (sthavara) and performing ritualistic worship.

One of Basavanna’s many beautiful vachana is “Ullavaru Shivalaya Maaduvaru”.
Ullavaru Shivalayava Maaduvaru!
Nanena maduve ? badavanayya!
enna kale kamba, dehave degula,
Shirave honna kalaSavayya!
kudalasamgamadeva kelayya,
sthavarakkalivumtu, jamgamakkalivilla!

In the first two lines of the vachana, Basavanna poetically tells us that the rich folk make temples in honour of Shiva, the highest
physical manifestation of the one supreme Lord. He reveals that he is too poor to be able to afford to construct a temple. In the third
and fourth lines, he beautifully refers to his body as a shrine, his legs being the pillars, his body being the shrine and his head imitating
the golden pinnacle. In the last two lines, Basavanna explains that, that which is dynamic is indestructible, whereas that which is
static is impermanent. The idol/sthavara in a temple is prone to destruction, like all other physical, static objects, but the idol realized
within (Jangama), resides there forever! Matter is impermanent, but spiritually is timeless!

Temples have served the society, socially and culturally, by serving as a venue for worship and interactions, but constructing temples
and performing mere rites doesn’t enhance one’s spirituality and devotion. One must see god in every object and strive to see the god
within. I noticed and quite liked the humility in the vachana where Basavanna tells us that the only thing we possess is our body
which again is a gift of the lord. He highlights the importance of keeping the body austere enough to be worthy of the lords residence
and the significance of cultivating the mind to do so. I found the last line of the vachana most powerful as it gave us advice as to how
we must live our lives. It discourages static nature and advocates dynamism into all parts of our lives. This is pertinent to our life
today as cultivating the mind is significant in achieving and learning things in life. I often find my teachers and parents encouraging
me to develop the hunger for learning and achieving.

Another beautiful vachana by Basavanna is “Kalabeda Kolabeda”:

Kalabeda, kolabeda, husiya nudiyalu beda
muniya beda, anyarige asahya pada beda
tanna bannisa beda, idira haliyalu beda
ide antaranga shudhi, ide bahiranga shudhi
ide namma koodalasangama devaranolisuva pari

The seven don’ts in the first few lines are often known as the seven commandments of veerashaivism. Practicing these command-
ments is the key to living a scrupulously austere life. Basavanna stresses on the rightness of the body, the speech and the mind in this
vachana. The first two commandments, theft and murder, respectively are acts of the body. The next two lines talk about anger and
lying which are acts of the speech. Disgust, self-practise and humiliation are all driven by the mind. The inward purity (antaranga
shudhi) refers to the cleansing of that which is within, namely the soul. The outward purity (bahiranga shudhi) refers to the cleansing
of the external-the body and its surroundings. The last line of the vachana stipulates that total purity is the only way to reach the lord.

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