Work is Worship | Kayakave Kailasa | Basavanna's vachana | God helps those who help themselves

Vishwaguru Sri Basavanna

Today is Basava Jayanti. It is celebrated all over Karnataka with pomp and show. Basavanna was a 12th century revolutionary thinker, statesman, social reformer, a great poet and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. His poems are called Vachanas written in Kannada, the local language of Karnataka. They are evergreen till date and applicable to all generations. Basavanna was the first one to establish the world's first democratic parliament called Anubhava Mantapa. He's entitled as Vishwaguru for His universal teachings.

One of his main teachings was "Kayakave Kailasa". Meaning "Work is Worship". On His birthday today, let me pay tribute to the Vishwaguru by writing a story that depicts this vachana (proverb). 

In a remote village of India, there lived a man named Manu. He was a very lethargic man who woke up late in the mornings and did no work at home or outside. He would just walk around the village, pass time sitting under trees and chat with fellow men. Although he frequently visited a Maha Lakshmi temple in the village and prayed for her blessings to bestow him with wealth and prosperity.

His wife and children were worried as Manu never earned anything for their livelihood. They somehow managed to fulfill their daily needs by earning petty wages working here and there. Nobody could persuade Manu to earn. He believed that Goddess Lakshmi would one day grant him his wishes and bless him.

The Sarpanch of the village was a good hearted humble senior man with a good spirit. He knew about Manu and his whereabouts and the difficulties his family members were facing. One fine day, when he saw Manu chatting with his friends under a tree, the Sarpanch called Manu aside.

Sarpanch asked Manu if he could do something for him.

Manu replied saying he could not deny doing anything for him.

Pleased with his reply, the Sarpanch placed a few seeds in Manu's hand and asked him to sow them in his fields.

Manu was bound to follow what the Sarpanch asked him to. He dragged himself unwillingly to the fields and just sowed the seeds.

Even the next day, Sarpanch called him and asked him to do the same.

Manu simply did what was asked of him.

This followed for a handful of days.
He had somehow started liking it. The fresh air, cool breezes, greenery and scenic mountains at a distance seemed to invite him.

One such day, while Manu was sowing the next set of seeds, his eyes fell on a pair of tender leaves sprouting out of soil. He felt happy to see them as he realised that he had sown it's seed. He felt proud of himself.

From next day, he naturally got an interest to visit the fields and water the seedlings.

The Sarpanch started giving Manu payments for his work.

Some time later, the saplings grew and began bearing vegetables and fruits. Manu was overwhelmed to see how quickly he had raised these plants to be yielding. The Sarpanch then paid him a pretty large amount after selling the produce from his fields.

Manu's family was overjoyed and thankful to the Sarpanch for showing Manu a way.

Manu had a different feeling altogether. He felt very content and self satisfied.

Now he had got an interest. He was determined to work even more harder. He worked hard and earned stably. After four to five harvests from the farms, he started getting richer and richer.

He then realised that he had wasted so much time in his life thinking that wealth would come on its own by worshipping the Goddess. That he could have earned so much if he had started much earlier.

Manu improved outstandingly by working harder each day. His progress became the talk of the town as it got noticed by the villagers and they praised him for working hard and sincerely.

Manu became wealthy in no time. Now he had his own lands, his own farms and trees that produced great harvests.

He started helping the poor and needy. Also donated to charities. Thus he gained a good name in the village and people started seeing him as a role model.

One night, Goddess Lakshmi appeared to him in his dream and said, "Son, I like your hard work. I will be at the doors of my devotees who work hard and lead their life. You have been working well and did not become arrogant after gaining all riches. You helped the needy. I wish to see you lead your life with this same positive spirit."

Next morning, he recalled his dream and tears filled his eyes. He had learnt that "Work is Worship". Only worshipping doesn't help. But one must work hard towards their goals without being greedy and selfish. He had also learnt that "God helps those who help themselves". Acquiring such knowledge from the Goddess' dream, he did not keep it unto himself but he spread the message to people around him.