Kayakave Kailasa | Bhakti Republic OST | M. D. Pallavi and Bruce Lee Mani

Poet: Basavanna

Translator: A. K. Ramanujan

Source: Speaking of Siva, Penguin Classics

Performed by M. D. Pallavi and Bruce Lee Mani

For Bhakti Republic with Amit Basole

Radio Azim Premji University, 2023

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Make of my body the beam of a lute

of my head the sounding gourd

of my nerves the strings

of my fingers the plucking rods

Clutch me close

and play your thirty-two songs

KuDalasangamadeva!

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Basava, also known as Basaveshwara and Basavanna, played a pivotal role in Vachana Sahitya during the Kalyani Chalukya and Kalachuri dynasties in 12th century Karnataka. Despite his Brahmin caste background, he vehemently opposed gender and social discrimination, superstitions, and rituals. Basava introduced the Ishtalinga necklace for all, promoting devotion to Shiva regardless of birth. As finance minister under King Bijjala II, he utilized the state treasury for social and religious reform. He established Anubhava Mantapa, a ‘parliament’ for individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in spiritual and existential discussions, emphasizing his philosophy centered on valuing the living human experience over static structures like temples. Basava's sharana philosophy emphasizes the body as a temple (Kayakave Kailasa) and as an instrument for honoring the divine.

Bhakti Republic with Amit Basole, in its third episode Kayakave Kailasa, elucidates the poetry of the vachanakaras. Radio Azim Premji University presents a selection of eleven vachanas by Akka Mahadevi, Allama Prabhu, Ayadakki Marayya, Basavanna, Devara Dasimayya, Kalavve, Madara Chennaiah, Maritande, and Sule Sankavva. They are rendered by singer M. D. Pallavi, with musician Bruce Lee Mani accompanying on guitar. These spontaneous performances were improvised and recorded in an informal set-up as a soundtrack to the episode.

Performed by M. D. Pallavi and Bruce Lee Mani

Poems selected by Amit Basole

Supported by: Akshay Ramuhalli, Arjun Jayadev, Bijoy Venugopal, Kripa Gowrishankar, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

Produced for Radio Azim Premji University

Listen to Bhakti Republic on Radio Azim Premji University on a podcast platform of your choice. Read more: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/bhakti-republic-with-amit-basole-radio-azim-premji-university