Vakh and Vacana: The Pearls of Wisdom

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Vakh and Vachana - The Pearls of Wisdom reaffirms the concord and universality of Indian spirituality and mysticism. The reflective poetry expressed in the local languages of Saint Poets, such as, Lal-Ded of Kashmir and Basaveshvara, Akkamahadevi et al, of Karnataka have abundantly enriched the intellectual, philosophical Shaivite Bhakti traditions of the two different geographies of India Till date, these traditions embedded in the collective conscience of the indigenous people continue to inspire the philosophers, poets and common people alike Both the traditions discard the confines of caste, creed, gender and profession.

An outcome of two days academic dialogue, the 'Vakh and Vachana: Pearls of Wisdom' is a compendium of recent researches on these two brilliant mystic traditions. The publication intends to connect the readers with these age-old, yet extremely relevant traditions, which are imbued with sonorous musicality, affluent literary flavor, and sophisticated metaphysical content, expressed in aphoristic language.

These enlightening expressions relieve the sufferings of the weary human mind and provide a helping hand and deep insight in realizing the inner 'Self'. These unique assertions continue to create a sense of awe and enchantment in the minds of the readers. when comprehended in their proper context and with appropriate intent.

Dr. Vasundhara Filliozat, is an eminent historian of art and an epigraphist She is the author of more than thirty books in Kannada, English and in French on various subjects of her interests like "the history of Karnataka, Iconography, Hindu Mythology, Sanskrit Grammar for the beginners, and translation of French novels. She works alternatively in India to explore the archaeological and literary past of her country and in France to encourage knowledge and appreciation of the Indian civilization, still insufficiently known in the West.

Dr. Sushma Jatoo is the Head of Kalakosa Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. She is also the Project Director of the 'women studies program of the centre', through which the Centre researches on the contribution of Women' from Indian perspective. Dr. Jatoo is a keen student of the traditional knowledge systems of India, and has largely contributed towards bringing to light the Gyan Parampara of Indian arts and culture through her official and personal publications. She is an active member of the UNESCO's project for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of India.

The words 'Vakh' and 'Vachana' are both derived from the Sanskrit root "vac which means 'to speak'. The spiritual outpourings of saint poets are called Vakh in Kashmiri and Vachana in Kannada; both belong to and have abundantly enriched the Shivaite Bhakti tradition. Both these schools of spirituality were discussed at length in a National Seminar organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

The IGNCA is an autonomous Trust set up by the Govt. of India under the Ministry of Culture and is a premier resource centre engaged in research, documentation, publication and dissemination of knowledge of the arts. The fundamental approach of the Centre in all its work is both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. The Kalakosa division of IGNCA has been conceived of as the research and publication wing. The division is committed to exploring these fundamental concepts which reflect a holistic vision; characteristic of the Indian worldview, but whose survival is today threatened by narrow specialization. It addresses all its endeavours to the establishment of Indian worldview, which has permeated all disciplines and dimensions of life. It brings to light the primary textual source material hitherto unknown, unpublished or inaccessible both in original language as also in translation and places these before future generations; wherein the methodology being applied is holistic, cross-cultural and multidisciplinary.

The idea to organize a Seminar based on the understanding and studying both the schools (viz., the Vakh and the Vachana) and their interlinkages came up, when Prof. P. S. Filliozat and Dr. Vasundhara Filliozat made an illustrated presentation titled "Influence of Shaivagama on Kannada Vachana" at IGNCA. The session was chaired by eminent Sanskritist Prof. Radha Vallabh Tripathi. During the discussions following the presentation, a lively dialogue ensued, wherein the Vakh tradition of Kashmir was also brought in focus by Dr Sushma Jatoo and it emerged that a seminar may be organized; concerning both the traditions of spiritual musings as this area is new and unexplored so far and may be delved deeper so that this unique genre of Indian literature is brought to light in modern day discourse. Subsequently a two day national seminar was organized at the IGNCA. in which scholars from Kashmir, Jammu, Pune, Bengaluru, Mysore, Pondicherry and Delhi presented their papers in five academic sessions across two days. During the course of the seminar, noted Art Historian and scholar Dr. (Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan stated that personalities like Lal Ded and Nund Rishi were "above religious denominations or sects and they spoke a universal language which was kalatita (beyond time)." Ms. Dipali Khanna, the then Member-Secretary, IGNCA in her special remarks expressed her happiness that this seminar was held under the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the IGNCA and said, "The present seminar has brought together two geographically different yet philosophically similar traditions and I am sure through the deliberations for these two days, newer vistas of inter-traditional studies will emerge." Prof. Radha Vallabh Tripathi in his Presidential address congratulated the IGNCA for organization of the seminar and stated that it was really a matter of great pleasure that such a thought-provoking national level seminar had been held at the IGNCA. He referred to the first-ever recorded manuscript of Sanskrit translation of Lal-Vakh of Kashmir by Bhaskara in medieval period, which was his initiation to the study of Lal-Vakh. He further stated that the IGNCA should take it up for re-edition and translation, which will be a great service to the study and understanding of tradition of Lal-Vakh. He has been magnanimous enough to oblige IGNCA with an erudite Introduction of the seminar proceedings, which is given ahead. His Holiness Dr. Shivamurthy Shivacharya Svami Ji presented an eloquent talk on the topic Upanisad and Vachana' and also demonstrated the Ganaka vachana, interactive software developed by him for Kannada Vachanas. He also very generously offered that the next Seminar of this series may be held at his Ashram campus at Sirigire, Karnataka. Mahamohopadhyaya Prof. Pierre Sylvain Filliozat spoke about the tradition of Kannada Vachana and the relevance of this seminar, with special reference to the emergence of mysticism and devotion from 17th to 19th centuries.

In addition to the above, several eminent scholars and observers also participated in the deliberations and contributed richly to the proceedings of the Seminar by sharing their personal experiences and realizations. Alongside academic discussions, performances related to both the traditions were also held on both the evenings. Select images and details of these performances are also given in the following pages.

It is a matter of immense pleasure for us to place the present volume titled Vakh and Vacana: Pearls of Wisdom in the hands of scholars, connoisseurs and readers. The publication investigates two geographically distant, yet, philosophically proximate traditions of expressions of mysticism and spirituality, namely, the Vakh tradition of Kashmir and the Vacana tradition of Karnataka.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) explores the interactions between the theory and practice of Indian arts, manifested in the Shastric, Laukika and intellectual traditions. The Arts are understood in their broadest connotations here, and include the physical and the metaphysical and, the esoteric as well as the exoteric traditions. The investigations into the interlinkages between the two traditions were initiated and driven by a curiosity to find the correspondences and divergences and to bring forth their underlying metaphysical harmony. To our amazement, we found out that it is much more deep rooted than today's much clichéd "unity of northern and southern Indian traditions". The IGNCA took cognizance of these commonalities and in conformity to its professed goals of lending a platform to creative interactions; decided to hold a dialogue between the experts of both the traditions, so that their similarities, dissimilarities and interlinkages etc. might come to light. Hence, a two day national seminar titled Vakh and Vacana: Pearls of Wisdom was organized at the IGNCA. This 'first of its kind' seminar provided opportunity to scholars and Sadhakas from both the traditions to interact, exchange their viewpoints and bring to light the inherent ideas embedded in the philosophy. The seminar reaffirmed the concord, interconnectivity and universality of Indian mysticism. Both the traditions have a number of similarities such as worship of Absolute in the form of 'Shiva'. Both discard the confines of caste, creed, gender, profession etc. The composers of both the traditions have expressed their abstract, mystic musings in their native languages, i.e., Kashmiri and Kannada.

The great river of Indian culture has been flowing in multiple tributaries of Naigamic, Agamic, Šramanic or Islamic traditions with diverse undercurrents. The Naigamic or Vedic culture has remained focused on the varṇāsrama system. The Agamic tradition developed from diverse Tantric cults. It transgresses social hierarchies and restraints. The former cultivated the ideals of aparigraha (non-possession), tapas (penance) and sannyasa (renunciation) based on denial or negation; the latter cultivated the ideal of sarvasvikära - universal acceptance. Denial of one and all and acceptance of one and all mean the same with some difference at the pragmatic level. Tantras discarded caste or gender differences. By rejecting the socio-economic differences they took the vamamarga (the left path) through transgression. Tantras also insisted on combining the other worldly with this worldly. They created a unique synthesis of life with spiritual pursuit. Utpaladeva says in his Bhaktiviläsa -

atma mama bhagavadbhaktisudhāpānayuvāpi san

lokayāträrajorăgat palitair iva dhisarah

(My soul, even being young by drinking the elixir of devotion to the Lord, appears as if dusty with grey hair, due to the raga ('colour, attachment') of the rajas ('dust, rajoguna) during the course of the journey in this world.)

The saints upholding the idea of sahaja have even ridiculed the discarding of vijayabhoga (enjoyment of worldly things). The sahajiyds regards love and natural life as the core of the religion. Sarahapă is said to have been the founder of this school.

He was born in Eastern India at a place called Saroli in the city of Raji. He grew up listening to the discourses by Amita and developed interest the Buddhist philosophy. He moved away from Buddhism by bringing in empiricism in his philosophy of pure bliss. He has said, "The subtle sprout of mind should be irrigated with the waters of pure worldly pleasure, otherwise it will not grow as a great tree of Kalpavrkṣa."

Book's Contents and Sample Pages