Skip to content

Category Archives: Vacana

Vacana

In search of Anubhava Mantapa

Thursday, February 28, 2008

I know this is the kind of post that often creates trouble, especially for myself and even if written responsibly.
But I must write nevertheless, if only to raise questions about what passes for research.
The Hindu had a report from Bidar with the heading: ‘Anubhava Mantapa’ site eludes researchers.
As the story stated:
Basaveshwara, social reformer of the [...]

Also filed in Calm-entry, Mythos | | Comments (0)

Building a Tank

Monday, May 29, 2006

I see none at all
Who can build a tank
With the body as bank,
Buttress it with mind,
With virtue for steps,
And fill it all full
With water of Bliss.
Before you I declare,
Guhesvara,
Forever shall stand
The tank I have built.
Here is Allama’s response to Siddharama, who in spite of being an ascetic, is immersed in the world and is content [...]

Also filed in | | Comments (5)

Sarana’s body

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Hariva nadige maiyella kalu
Urivagnige maiyella nalige
Bisuva galige maiyella kai
Guhesvara, nimma saranange sarvanga linga [Allama, v. 775]
For the flowing river, legs are the entire body
For the burning fire, tongue is the entire body
For the gusty wind, hands are the entire body
Guhesvara, for your sarana, all the limbs are linga.

Also filed in | | Comments (0)

Muktayakka’s questions

Friday, May 26, 2006

Do you say you act not?
There lies the act!
Do you say think not?
There lies your thought!
Do you say you’ve forgotten
What you have known?
there’s knowledge and forgetfulness!
Do you say that Linga
Is absorbed in your anga?
Even there is anga!
Do you say you are
Divorced from the flesh?
There is the taint of sense!
Do you know ‘I am I’?
Then you [...]

Also filed in | | Comments (2)

Vacana: Pilgrimages - 1

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Vacanas are the moral compass for the Land of Lime. My friends know how obsessed I have been about figuring out civilizational significance of the vacanas. Ever since I began posting vacanas, I have also been considering writing brief commentaries on them. Today, I want to post four vacanas, which constitute an appropriate commentary on [...]

Also filed in Civilization, Dharma | | Comments (3)

Vacana: What do we cultivate?

Monday, January 9, 2006

My body I have made a garden,
My mind a spade.
I have dug up illusion’s weeds,
Broken up the clods of worldliness,
Harrowed the earth, and sown
The spirit’s seed.
The thousand-fold lotus is my well,
My water-wheel my breath;
From my subtle nerve I have
Channeled the water.
And to keep out the five
Bulls of sense
That might trample my crops,
I have set up [...]

Also filed in | | Comments (2)