Within the Lingayat tradition, the heart of sacred literature is found in the *vachanas*—short, free‑verse devotional and philosophical compositions in Kannada. These were composed by the sharanas, the saints and seekers of the movement, such as Basavanna (Basaveshwara), Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna, Siddharama, and others. The vachanas articulate direct devotion to Shiva while also voicing ethical concerns and social reform, making them both scripture and moral compass for the community. They are regarded as the most characteristic expression of Lingayat spirituality, embodying its emphasis on inner experience over ritual formalism.

Closely related to the vachanas is the *Shunya Sampadane*, a major spiritual anthology in Kannada that weaves together these sayings and presents them as dialogues, especially between Allama Prabhu and other sharanas. This work offers a more systematic portrayal of Lingayat mystical thought, using the conversations to explore the nature of the divine, the meaning of “shunya” (the spiritual void or fullness), and the path of the devotee. It functions as a contemplative guide, giving structure and narrative context to the often aphoristic vachanas.

Another central strand of Lingayat literature is the hagiographical tradition, especially the *Basava Purana*. This text narrates the life and teachings of Basavanna and other saints, shaping the community’s memory of its origins and ideals. Versions in Kannada and Telugu have played a significant role in forming a shared identity, presenting Basavanna not only as a devotee of Shiva but also as a social reformer whose life becomes a model for spiritual and ethical practice. Related works, such as narratives focusing on figures like Chennabasava, extend this biographical literature and deepen the sense of a living lineage of saints.

Alongside these, certain doctrinal and narrative works further articulate Lingayat theology and practice. Texts such as *Prabhulinga Leele* present allegorical or story‑based explorations of saintly lives and spiritual states, reinforcing the themes found in the vachanas and hagiographies. In some streams of the tradition, Shaiva scriptures and ritual manuals—often referred to as Siddhānta or Veerashaiva texts, including works like *Śrī Siddhānta Śikhamani* and *Liṅgāchāra*—are treated as authoritative for defining doctrine, initiation, and liṅga‑worship. Taken together, these bodies of literature form a many‑sided canon in which poetic utterance, mystical dialogue, sacred biography, and theological codification all converge around devotion to Shiva and the transformation of social and spiritual life.