The Breath of Linga. The Teachings of Lingayats in the Vachanas of Basavanna

This edition is the first historical translation of the vachanas (spiritual sayings) of Basavanna directly from Kannada into Russian, accompanied by historical-philological and philosophical commentaries.

Basavanna (Basaveshwara) - an Indian poet, thinker, spiritual teacher, and social reformer of the 12th century from Karnataka, one of the outstanding figures of the Lingayat movement. In the history of Kannada literature, his role is comparable to that of Pushkin in Russian culture: he shaped the poetic language that combines written tradition and living spoken speech.

The vachanas of Basavanna are brief addresses to Lord Kudalasangama (one of the names of Shiva), in which personal religious experience is intertwined with social criticism. They reflect the rethinking of religious orthodoxy in the 12th century in South India and the beginnings of the formation of a new spiritual community of Lingayats.