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For the wedding of devotion-passion
with the rings of oleander,
the screen of jasmines,
the canopy of chrysanthemums.
o all kinds of flowers,
do come in procession.
I am getting married to Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/301/[1]
I speak only words of good devotion,
I act as I speak,
I fulfill my words in my act.
High above
you have the scale in your hand.
If there is even a particle of difference
throw me out and walk away, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/302/[1]
The good devotees don’t relish
the daasoha of the one without devotion.
A crow relishes bitter fruit of neem,
but a cuckoo cannot.
Sharanas of Koodalasangamadeva don’t relish
the words of those unrelated to linga. -Guru Basava/303/[1]
If you can be a bhakta in various births,
see, it is better to have those births.
Worship of linga, experience ofjangama
are each day’s bliss.
I wish for them for ever,
O father, Koodalasangamadeva, grant me this. -Guru Basava/304/[1]
Can you paint without a canvass?
Can you grow without the earth?
Can you worship linga without jangama?
Can you penetrate the lord of life without a body?
As Koodalasangamadeva the un-manifest
has the face of jangama
I don’t know anything else. -Guru Basava/305/[1]
Wealth hidden in the earth,
appear to those who have anjana.
Don’t be afraid, don’t have doubts,
if you have faith that linga is injangama
Koodalasangamadeva will appear before your eyes. -Guru Basava/306/[1]
For the Bherunda bird having one body and two heads,
if you put blinkers between two heads
and pour milk for one mouth
and poison for another
will not poison spread in one body?
Worshiping linga and blaming jangama,
I fume in rage Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/307/[1]
Tonsuring my head I became a male slave.
I may be immodest, but I will please linga.
I may be unashamed, but I will please linga,
Let the worldly neighbors laugh, if they feel like it,
Koodalasangamadeva I submit myself to you. -Guru Basava/308/[1]
The pot is god
the winnowing fan is god
the stone on the street is god
the comb is god
the bowstring is god
the measuring vessel is god
the small cup is god
there are gods and gods
no place to set foot in.
There is just one god,
Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/309/[1]
To make a pot
earth comes first.
To make ornaments
gold comes first.
To know the path of Shiv a
path of guru comes first.
To know Koodalasangamadeva
company of sharanas comes first. -Guru Basava/310/[1]
Pot made of earth
cannot become earth losing its form.
Butter melting and becoming ghee
cannot become butter again losing its form.
Gold cannot become iron losing its form.
Pearl born in water
cannot become water again losing its form.
Once a sharana of Koodalasanga
cannot become a mere man losing his form. -Guru Basava/311/[1]
The mind a snake
the body a basket.
Living in company with the snake,
when it will kill me, I do not know
when it will swallow me, I do not know.
If I can worship you each day
that is the charm
against the snake Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/312/[1]
Look at the house,
they are poor.
Look at the mind,
they are rich.
Remaining pure regarding women,
they are brave in every sense.
Nothing in store,
but have enough when they need.
The sharanas of Koodalasanga are independent and brave. -Guru Basava/313/[1]
Is the master of the house in,
or is he not?
Grass growing around the threshold,
the house filled with dust,
is the master of the house in,
or is he not?
The body filled with lies,
the mind filled with desires,
the master of the mind, is he in or he is not?
The master of the mind is not in the mind,
Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/314/[1]
Considering the root to be the mouth of tree
if you pour water at the bottom,
see the tree sprouted at the top.
If you consider jangama to be the mouth of linga
and offer all to it, linga will give everything in future.
If one sees jangama as Shiva and think of him as man
One cannot escape hell, Koodalasangamadeva. -Guru Basava/315/[1]
[1] Number indicates at the end of each Vachana is from the book "Vachana",
pub: Basava Samiti Bangalore 2012.
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