Poetic Rendering
A sword in one hand,
flesh in the other,
lips stained with liquor
can such a one claim the Linga?
No, the Linga they wear
rests only on the surface,
not within the heart.
I call such mouths false lingis,
for outward symbols
have not blossomed into inner light.
O Koodalasangamadeva,
let me not fall into such hypocrisy.
Basavanna draws a clear line between ritual display and genuine inner transformation. External symbols like wearing a Linga become meaningless if the practitioner’s mind is consumed by violence, indulgence, or intoxication. Spiritual authenticity is measured not by appearance or ritual, but by the lived presence of remembrance, purity, and consciousness. The Vachana warns against hypocrisy and urges seekers to cultivate an inner Linga that shines through thoughts, actions, and heart.
Spiritual Context
Core Spiritual Principle: Spiritual symbols are empty and blasphemous if they are not mirrored by a corresponding inner state. True devotion requires the integration of one’s entire being thought, word, and deed into a life of conscious integrity.
Cosmic Reality Perspective: The Divine (Linga) is absolute Truth and Purity. To bear the symbol of the Linga while engaging in acts of violence (the sword), indulgence (the flesh), or delusion (the liquor) is to live in a state of profound contradiction. This dissonance creates a spiritual blockage that prevents grace from flowing, making the external ritual not just ineffective but a negative force that reinforces self deception.
Historical Reality (Anubhava Mantapa Context): This Vachana is a fierce internal critique aimed at purifying the Lingayat community itself. Basavanna addresses the danger of the path becoming a new orthodoxy where the external symbol of the Linga is worn without the inner revolution it is meant to signify. He condemns “false lingis” those who use the Linga as a social or ritual identifier while their hearts remain captive to base instincts. This ensures the movement remains a path of authentic transformation, not empty ritualism.
Interpretation
1. “A sword in one hand, flesh in the other, lips stained with liquor ” Basavanna lists three potent symbols of an unregenerate state: Sword: Represents violence, aggression, and the willingness to harm others. Flesh: Represents unrestrained sensual indulgence and attachment to the physical body as mere matter. Liquor: Represents intoxication, delusion, and the clouding of consciousness.
2. “can such a one claim the Linga?” This is a rhetorical question whose answer is a resounding “no.” The Linga represents the unifying, pure, and conscious principle. It cannot coexist with forces of division, impurity, and delusion.
3. “No, the Linga they wear rests only on the surface, not within the heart.” This diagnoses the problem: a disconnect between the outer form and the inner reality. The Linga is a “surface” ornament, not a heart centered, living reality.
4. “I call such mouths false lingis…” Basavanna coins a powerful term: “false lingis” (mosale lingigaLu). These are individuals for whom the Linga is a false identity, a mask. Their “mouths” or professions of faith are lies.
5. “…for outward symbols have not blossomed into inner light.” This defines the process of true spirituality. The external symbol is the seed. It must “blossom” into an “inner light” a transformed consciousness that radiates through one’s entire being and actions.
6. “O Koodalasangamadeva, let me not fall into such hypocrisy.” The Vachana concludes with a personal, protective prayer. Basavanna turns the critique inward, asking for the grace to be saved from the very hypocrisy he identifies in others. This demonstrates the self applicability of the teaching.
Practical Implications: The seeker is guided to: Constantly scrutinize their own inner state to ensure it aligns with their outer spiritual practices. Understand that ethical conduct (achara) is not separate from spirituality but is its very foundation. Prioritize the “blossoming” of inner awareness and compassion over the mere performance of rituals.
The Cosmic Reality
Anga (Human Dimension): The Anga is the individual who must ensure that their body, mind, and soul are a congruent offering. The “false lingi” is an Anga in a state of dangerous dissonance.
Linga (Divine Principle): The Linga is the principle of absolute integrity and purity. It cannot be compartmentalized; it demands the totality of one’s being.
Jangama (Dynamic Interaction): The Jangama is the lived expression where the inner state and the outer symbol are one. It is the dynamic process of ensuring that every action (“hand”), every consumption (“mouth”), and every intention (“heart”) reflects the Linga one wears.
Shata Sthala
Primary Sthala: Bhakta Sthala. This Vachana provides the essential ethical and psychological groundwork for a true devotee. A Bhakta must begin by purifying their conduct to make their body mind a fit vessel for the divine presence.
Supporting Sthala: Maheshwara Sthala. The intense inner purification of this stage involves the renunciation (virakti) of the very tendencies described: violence, sensual indulgence, and mental delusion.
Practical Integration
Arivu (Awareness Practices): Honesty Check: Regularly sit in introspection and ask: “Where is the disconnect between my spiritual ideals and my daily actions? Where am I a ‘false lingi’?”
Symbol to Substance Meditation: Meditate on your Ishtalinga. Feel its energy not as an external object, but as a seed of light in your heart. Visualize this light expanding to fill your entire being, transforming your thoughts, words, and actions.
Achara (Personal Discipline): Adopt a personal code of conduct that reflects the inner Linga. This includes practicing non violence (ahimsa), moderation in consumption, and cultivating a clear, sober mind.
Kayaka (Sacred Action): Let your work be an expression of your inner integrity. Do not engage in professions or tasks that require violence, deceit, or that cloud your consciousness.
Dasoha (Communal Offering): Foster a community culture of authenticity. Gently encourage fellow seekers to look beyond external appearances and support each other in the challenging work of inner alignment.
Modern Application
“Virtue Signaling and Spiritual Branding.” In the age of social media, it is easy to curate a spiritual image using the right language, symbols, and aesthetics while one’s private life may be riddled with negativity, consumption, and unethical behavior. This is the modern equivalent of being a “false lingi.”
This Vachana is a powerful antidote to spiritual performancism. It calls for a return to authenticity. It liberates the seeker from the pressure to maintain a perfect image and redirects energy to the real work: the often messy, private, and profound task of inner purification and integration.
Essence
You cannot hold a knife in your heart
and offer God a flower from your hand.
The Linga is not a badge to be worn over a wound;
it is the healing of the wound itself.
Let my worship be not what I show,
but what I become:
a life where the symbol and the soul
are finally, fiercely, the same.
This Vachana establishes a crucial criterion for spiritual validity: ontological congruence. It states that the value of a spiritual practice is nullified if there is a fundamental disconnect between the practitioner’s state of being and the nature of the Divine they seek. Its multidimensional impact is to fuse ethics, psychology, and theology into an inseparable whole. It positions the Jangama as the living proof of this congruence a human being in whom the outer form and the inner reality have become a seamless, truthful expression of the Divine.
Your spiritual path is only as real as the change it creates in your character. Do not use sacred symbols as a mask to hide an unhealed life. The most profound offering you can make is to align your inner world with your highest ideals. Let your actions, your diet, and your state of mind be the truest testimony of your faith. Anything less is a lie you tell yourself, and the universe cannot be deceived.
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