Basavanna-Bhakthi & Karma

Source: @TrueIndology

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It is NOT "Kailsa".There is no such thing as "Kailsa" in Kannada. It is ಕಾಯಕವೆ ಕೈಲಾಸ. It means body (ಕಾಯ) is abode of Lord Shiva ( ಕೈಲಾಸ ) .

It is a famous saying of Basavanna that for the one who has surrendered (ಶರಣ), his body itself is abode of the Lord Shiva (ಕೈಲಾಸ) . The interpretation "Work (ಕಾಯಕ) is Kailasa (ಕೈಲಾಸ)" is wrong. It does not even fit with the whole verse that reads as ಕಾಯಕವೆ ಕೈಲಾಸ ಕಾಣಿರೊ. You can "see" body but you cannot "see" work.

The whole poem is about Surrender(Sharana). When a body surrendered to the God sleeps (ಶರಣ ನಿದ್ರಗೈದಡೆ ), it will be seen by the world as chanting (ಜಪ ಕಾಣಿರೊ),. When a surrendered body wakes up (ಶರಣನೆದ್ದು ಕುಳಿದಡೇ) it is seen by the world as Shivaratri ( ಶಿವರಾತ್ರಿ ಕಾಣಿರೊ).

The very body of the person who has surrendered ( ಶರಣರ ಕಾಯಕವೆ) is seen by the world as Kailasa (ಕೈಲಾಸ ಕಾಣಿರೊ).

I am really surprised to see many people interpret this hymn as "work is worship". In Basavanna's world, Bhakti had much greater precedence over physical work in a materialistic universe

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