Karula Kethayya (ಕರುಳ ಕೇತಯ್ಯ)

After knowing that one can never escape death
why die every day by destroying one’s vow?
Before you get the blame
make your mind one with linga,
attain and be one with
Manakke Manohara Shankeshwaralinga. [Vachana No.1618] ^[1]

Karula Kethayya was a strict disciplinarian. Shankeshwara is his signature. His 8 vachanas have been traced. They are very particular about keeping the worldly at an arms distance and similarly there is an injunction against receiving something that is not first offered to the lord.

If this body touches something that which it should not
I will cut it to pieces that very moment.
If the hand touches something which it should not
I will hack it.
If the ears listen to something which they should not
I will ram a wedge immediately.
If the nose smells something which it should not
I will pierce it with sharp stick.
If the eyes look at something which they should not
I will pluck them out.
If the mind thinks of something which it should not
I will destroy myself
and you are the witness for this
Manakke Manohara Shankeshwaralinga [Vachana No.1619] ^[1]