Yogi Vemana was a 17th-century Telugu poet and philosopher. He was born in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and became a great sage renowned for his verses that explore the path of Yoga, wisdom and morality. Vemana blended philosophical contemplation with literary expression, making his poetry both spiritually profound and aesthetically appealing.
In this song, the poet emphasizes the significance of maintaining an unwavering mind in every moment to attain a state of absolute devotion, suggesting that rituals and external actions hold little value without inner purity, that seeking divinity in external places is unnecessary as Shiva resides within. He says, “Why go behind the scholars, to the wild woods or the mountain? Shiva resides right here in your heart.”