vacana

Vacana, also spelled vachana, is a form of devotional poetry and prose that developed in the Kannada-speaking regions of medieval India. The word vacana means utterance or saying, and in Kannada literature it refers to concise, direct expressions of faith, ethics, and social critique. The vachana tradition is closely linked with the Lingayat or Veerashaiva movement that emerged in the 12th century.

The tradition was shaped by Basavanna and his contemporaries, known as the Vachanakaras, including Akka Mahadevi, Allama Prabhu, and Devara Dasimayya. They preached devotion to the Ishtalinga and a bhakti that rejected caste discrimination, ritualism, and priestly authority, advocating social equality, ethical living, and direct access to the divine. The verses are written in vernacular Kannada and employ plain speech, vivid metaphors, and sometimes paradoxical statements to convey spiritual insight and social reform.

Form and themes: Vacanas are typically short, aphoristic, and polemical. They critique established ritual authority, emphasize personal experience of God, and promote honesty, humility, and compassion. The language is accessible and figurative, blending everyday imagery with religious and philosophical ideas.

Influence and legacy: The vachana literature became a cornerstone of the Lingayat faith and had a lasting impact on Kannada literature and the broader South Indian Bhakti movement. Their works have been collected in editions such as the Vachana Padagalu and continue to be studied for their linguistic innovation, religious perspectives, and social critique.