Vachanas - Definition

Vachanas are a form of kannada poetry and closely linked to the social revolution lead by Basaveshvara, Allama Prabhu and Akka Mahadevi. Most of the authors of a particular vachana can be identified by the style of invocation of god (Basveshvara invokes "Kudala Sangama Deva", while Allama Prabhu invokes "Guheshwara", Akkamadevi invokes "Channa Malli Karjuna") in the vachana. Vachanas usually embody moral and spiritual messages.

See Also

• Kannada literature
• Basaveshvara
• Akka Mahadevi

Till date about 20,000 vachanas are published. Nearly 150 Vachana poets have been identified. The government of Karnataka has published Samagra Vachana Samputa in 15 volumes. Karnataka University Dharwad has published collections of individual vachana poets.

External Links

• BSOA (http://oswamy.tripod.com/vachanas.htm)
• Vicharamantapa (http://www.vicharamantapa.net)