Suttur, August 13, 2026: “A Guru is the manifestation of God and should be revered as the embodiment of the Supreme,” said Sri H.B. Devanna, while delivering a discourse on the second day of the Shravan Month Poojanushthana and Pravachana programme at Suttur Srikshetra on August 13.
Explaining the significance of the Guru, he said that the traditional verse, “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurudevo Maheshwara,” teaches that God should be seen in the Guru. The Guru shows the path of truth and is regarded as the very form of Parabrahma.
He said that the Shiva Sharanas exemplified strong morality, righteousness and truthfulness. Without steadfastness in purity and devotion, one cannot attain the grace of God. Referring to the teachings of Basavanna, he said that surrender to the Supreme requires complete dedication and unwavering determination. A person who chooses the spiritual path must possess firmness of mind and remain true to that commitment.
He further explained that when one accepts and embraces the Ishtalinga, one must do so with complete conviction and steadfastness. Such spiritual firmness, he said, was characteristic of the devoted Sharanas. “If the Linga represents the inner aspect, the Jangama represents the outer aspect. The Linga and the Jangama must be perceived as one and the same,” he observed.
Speaking about Ballesh Mallaiah, one of the 12th-century Shiva Sharanas and Vachanakaras, Sri Devanna said that he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Ballesh Mallaiah was originally a Jain and was known as Mallashetti, a trader by profession. While travelling from town to town for business, he came under the influence of the Sharanas, embraced their spiritual path and came to be known as Sharan Mallaiah.
He became a devoted worshipper of the Linga and followed the strict practice of not consuming prasada or food without first making an offering to the Linga. He worshipped the Shivalinga every day before taking his meals.
Narrating an incident from Ballesh Mallaiah’s life, Sri Devanna said that, on one occasion while travelling, Mallaiah could not find a Shiva temple nearby. With intense faith and devotion, he regarded a measuring bowl as the Shivalinga and worshipped it. It is believed that, moved by his unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the bowl.
Ballesh Mallaiah composed vachanas using the ankita or pen name “Balleshwaralinga.” His vachanas highlight the importance of truth, non-violence, spiritual emptiness and steadfast devotion. Through his teachings, he urged people to give up competition, ego and violence and to walk on the path of Shiva, Sri Devanna said.
As part of the programme, Smt. S. Mamatha and Sri K.G. Prabhuswamy; Smt. B. Manju and Sri Channabasavadevaru; Smt. K. Nagaratna and Prof. Prabhuswamy; and Sri K.S. Lokesh, Smt. Devamma and their family members rendered seva.
The programme began with a mass prayer. A large number of devotees and spiritual seekers participated in the discourse and related religious activities.