ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE POEM:
- THE TEMPLE AND THE BODY (VACHANA)
- THE TEMPLE AND THE BODY (VACHANA)
BASAVANNA
II. About Basavanna
Basavanna was a 12th-century Indian philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet in the Shiva-focussed Bhakti movement and a social reformer during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Karnataka, India. The Basavarajadevara ragale (13 out of 25 sections are available) by the Kannada poet Harihara (c.1180) is the earliest available account on the life of the social reformer and is considered important because the author was a near contemporary of his protagonist.[6] A full account of Basava's life and ideas are narrated in a 13th-century sacred Telugu text of the south Indian Hindu Lingayat community, the Basava purana by Palkuriki Somanatha. Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas. Basava rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals such as the wearing of sacred thread, but introduced Ishtalinga necklace, with an image of the Shiva Liṅga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one's bhakti to Shiva. As the chief minister of his kingdom, he introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa (or, the "hall of spiritual experience"), which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open. The traditional legends and hagiographic texts state Basava to be the founder of the Lingayats. However, modern scholarship relying on historical evidence such as the Kalachuri inscriptions state that Basava was the poet philosopher who revived, refined and energized an already existing tradition. Basavanna literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language. He is also known as Bhaktibhandari (literally, the treasurer of devotion), Basavanna (elder brother Basava) or Basaveswara (Lord Basava).
VI. Question & Answers
1. The lines The rich / will make a temple for Siva', implies that
a. they want to please the Lord.
b. they can afford to build temples
c. they believe that this is how they can serve God
d. they believe that the temple is the only place to feel the presence of God.
Ans: - (c) they believe that this is how they can serve God.
2. Which of the following statements are true?
a. the speaker is against building any structures for worshiping God
b. it's not possible for the speaker to build a temple.
c. it's only an excuse given by the speaker for not being able to build a temple.
d. the speaker believes that God is present within ourselves and not in any temple.
Ans: - (d) the speaker believes that God is present within ourselves and not in any temple.
3. What are the feelings of the speaker, suggested in the question, "what shall I, a poor man, do?"
a. helplessness
b. doubt
c. humility
d. anger
e. pride
f. anguish.
Ans: - (f) anguish
4. The word 'Listen' in the last stanza is
a. an order
b. an appeal
c. a request
d. an advice
Ans: - (d) an advice
5. The expression Things Standing', suggests
a. any man-made temple b. anybody who is standing
c. anything which is static
d. the human body
Ans: - (c) anything which is static.
6. There are two examples of paradox in the last two lines (A paradox is a statement containing opposite ideas)
a) What opposite ideas are suggested in 'things standing shall fall'?
Ans: - Things standing shall fall' can be interpreted in various ways. The poet laments his inability to build temples; hence the phrase can refer to temples which are subject to nature's fury and destruction over a period of time. It can also refer to pride and arrogance which can make a person stand erect in front of God when he should be bowing before Him. It may also mean that static objects that are moved by piety and devotion are subject to destruction and decay while the heart that is filled with devotion is blessed and becomes immortal.
b) What opposite ideas are suggested in ' the moving shall ever stay'?
Ans: - The moving shall ever stay' — this phrase too can be interpreted in many ways. The 'moving', i.e., the human heart which is a 'moving temple' cannot be destroyed by nature's fury unlike a temple that can be damaged easily by nature, 'the moving' can also refer to humble beings who are swayed by devotion and move according to God's will unlike the 'static' that stand erect against God's wishes and get destroyed.
7. What final message do the last two lines convey?
Ans: - The poet is consoling himself that the temple which he would never be able to construct, would any day be destroyed, whereas the 'moving temple' that he carries in his heart would be immortal and intact. The lines can also mean that the one who 'stands' in front of God without bowing down to Him, will surely 'fall' or be destroyed, whereas 'the moving', the one who bows down in front of Him and acts according to His wish, would stay ever. The poet finds consolation in his modest circumstances and his devotion to God.
VI. Question & Answers
1. The lines The rich / will make a temple for Siva', implies that
a. they want to please the Lord.
b. they can afford to build temples
c. they believe that this is how they can serve God
d. they believe that the temple is the only place to feel the presence of God.
Ans: - (c) they believe that this is how they can serve God.
2. Which of the following statements are true?
a. the speaker is against building any structures for worshiping God
b. it's not possible for the speaker to build a temple.
c. it's only an excuse given by the speaker for not being able to build a temple.
d. the speaker believes that God is present within ourselves and not in any temple.
Ans: - (d) the speaker believes that God is present within ourselves and not in any temple.
3. What are the feelings of the speaker, suggested in the question, "what shall I, a poor man, do?"
a. helplessness
b. doubt
c. humility
d. anger
e. pride
f. anguish.
Ans: - (f) anguish
4. The word 'Listen' in the last stanza is
a. an order
b. an appeal
c. a request
d. an advice
Ans: - (d) an advice
5. The expression Things Standing', suggests
a. any man-made temple b. anybody who is standing
c. anything which is static
d. the human body
Ans: - (c) anything which is static.
6. There are two examples of paradox in the last two lines (A paradox is a statement containing opposite ideas)
a) What opposite ideas are suggested in 'things standing shall fall'?
Ans: - Things standing shall fall' can be interpreted in various ways. The poet laments his inability to build temples; hence the phrase can refer to temples which are subject to nature's fury and destruction over a period of time. It can also refer to pride and arrogance which can make a person stand erect in front of God when he should be bowing before Him. It may also mean that static objects that are moved by piety and devotion are subject to destruction and decay while the heart that is filled with devotion is blessed and becomes immortal.
b) What opposite ideas are suggested in ' the moving shall ever stay'?
Ans: - The moving shall ever stay' — this phrase too can be interpreted in many ways. The 'moving', i.e., the human heart which is a 'moving temple' cannot be destroyed by nature's fury unlike a temple that can be damaged easily by nature, 'the moving' can also refer to humble beings who are swayed by devotion and move according to God's will unlike the 'static' that stand erect against God's wishes and get destroyed.
7. What final message do the last two lines convey?
Ans: - The poet is consoling himself that the temple which he would never be able to construct, would any day be destroyed, whereas the 'moving temple' that he carries in his heart would be immortal and intact. The lines can also mean that the one who 'stands' in front of God without bowing down to Him, will surely 'fall' or be destroyed, whereas 'the moving', the one who bows down in front of Him and acts according to His wish, would stay ever. The poet finds consolation in his modest circumstances and his devotion to God.
 - Class 10 1st Language English Textbook Solutions){kind=link}
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