Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 47

FEBRUARY, 2022]
VACHANAS ATTRIBUTED TO BASAVA
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2. Thy width is a wide as the universe, wide as the sky, wide as the widest. Thy auspicious feet are far beyond the nether world, and Thy auspicious crown far far above the globe of the Universe. O Linga, thou art unknowable, immeasurable, impalpable, and incomparable, O Kudalasangama Deva.
F. Do not Believe in Expiatory Ceremonies. 1. A Brahman by caste incurs great sins. For, he holds forth his hands for sins committed by anybody. Is such an one equal to the devotee of God? What shall I call him who, saying that he will transform Máchala-devi, a woman of the carpenter class, into & woman of high caste, makes her pass through the gold image of a cow, cooks food in milk and eats it on castor oil leaves, O Kudalasangama Deva ?
2. O you who have committed sinful deeds! O you who have killed a Brâhman ! Say only once, "I yield myself to God.” If you say once, "I submit,” all sins break and fly away. Even mountains of gold will not suffice for expiations. Hence, say only once "I submit," to that only one, our Kudalasangama Deva.
G. Do not Sacrifice. 1. Leave it alone, that Horse-sacrifice, leave it alone, that Initiation into the Ajapa Mantra. Leave it alone, that offering in fire, and those countings of the Gayatri 14 spell. Leave them alone, those charms and incantations for bewitching people. But the company and the words of the servants of Kudalasaógama Deva, mark, are greater than any of these.
2. Your destiny does not allow you to look forward. You are like an ox that turns ceaselessly round and round the block of wood in the oil mill. O mortals, be not ruined in vain, but worship the Linga ceaselessly. Our Kadalasangama Deva is not pleased with those thread-bearers that repeat the 'mantra' of cutting the necks of other creatures.15
H. Do not believe in Astrology, Devils and Omens. 1. O Liiga, whence comes the auspicious junction of the stars, whence the obstacles of the stars? Whence come the ill aspect of the stars, and the unpropitiousness of the day? O Liiga, to one who unceasingly meditates upon Thee, whence is their karma ?
2. Do not say that day, this day' or any other day. There is only one day to him who says, "O Siva, I submit." There is only one day to him who unceasingly meditates upon Kudalasangama Deva.
3. With one who knows not the subtle path of God, the time of the eclipse is far superior to the twenty-four tithis. The fast day is far superior to 'Sankranta.'16 Sacrificial offerings, and the daily rites are far superior to Vyatipâta 16 ! But to one who constantly meditates on Kudalasaigama Deva, such meditation is far superior to innumerable countinga of mantras and the pertormance of severe penances.
4. Oh seo, devils and ghosts are not far away! What in reality are devils? It is a devil if your eyes see amise. It is a devil if your tongue speaks amiss. It is a devil if you forget meditation on Kudalasangama Deva.
8. There is a snake-charmer who is going out with a snake in his hand to ascertain, with his noseless wife, an auspicious time for his son's marriage. Then he sees on his way another snake-charmer with a snake in his hand, coming before him, accompanied by his • 26 The most sacred prayer in the Rigveda, found in III, Ixii, 10.
16 Those Brahman priests who wear the sacred thread and repeat the liturgy which accompanine animal sacrifice.
16 Those are astronomical terms used in determinmg lucky and unlucky days.