Kannadi Kaayakada Ammidevayya

Being born in whatever caste or gotra
one should have no pollution in ones kaayaka or devotion.
Whatever vow is taken
one should follow it in body, mind and words,
not caring for what others think.
Can one get ones nose cut for the sake of others?
Can one mix inauspicious with auspicious
just because elders say so?
For one who has purity of feeling in action
and divine knowledge filled in his feelings
such bhakta of guru will be
Chennabasavanna Saakshiyaagi
Kamaleshwaralinga himself. [Vachana No.1615] ^[1]

Kannadi Kaayakada Ammidevayya followed the occupation of a barber. 10 vachanas written by him are available under the signature Kaamaleshwara Linga. He speaks about mysticism through the parapheranalia like barber’s box, mirror, knife and seissors that are used in his occupation. ‘I am master of the diseases’ is what he says and thus one gets afeeling that he might have been well-versed in matters of medicine too.

One who holds a torch may have doubts,
can light have any doubts?
For one caught in the throng of worldliness
and burning in the haste for lust
can only become muddled.
A true prasangi, linga bodies and content in Brahma,
can he ever be deluded by the chaos of worldliness?
Chennabasavanna Saakshiyaagi
Kamaleshwaralinga will be that person [Vachana No.1616] ^[1]

His reference to 18 occupations and his insistence that irrespective of one’s caste one should live without violating one’s occupation and devotion reflects his equanimity.