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Hindu Saints and Philosophers Details

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Basaveshwara, who is also known as Basavanna, was a renowned philosopher, poet, and social reformer of the 12th century CE in India. He was actively involved in the Shiva-focused bhakti movement and was a Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty. Although Basava was active during the rule of both dynasties, he gained the peak of his influence during the reign of King Bijjala II in Karnataka, India.

Basava propagated social awareness through his poetry, which is popularly known as Vachanaas. He rejected gender and social discrimination, superstitions, and rituals. He introduced the Ishtalinga necklace, which had an image of the Shiva Liṅga, to every individual, regardless of their birth, as a constant reminder of one&#39;s devotion to Shiva. He was a strong advocate of ahimsa and condemned human and animal sacrifices. As the chief minister of his kingdom, he established new public institutions like the Anubhava Mantapa, also known as the &quot;hall of spiritual experience,&quot; which welcomed people from all socio-economic backgrounds to openly discuss spiritual and worldly questions of life.

Traditionally, Basava has been regarded as the founder of the Lingayats, but modern scholarship relying on historical evidence, such as the Kalachuri inscriptions, states that Basava was the poet-philosopher who revived, refined, and energized an already existing tradition. The Basavarajadevara Ragale, written by the Kannada poet Harihara (c.1180), is the earliest available account of the life of the social reformer, and it is considered essential because the author was a near contemporary of Basava. A comprehensive account of Basava&#39;s life and ideas is narrated in the Basava Purana, a sacred Telugu text from the 13th century, written by Palkuriki Somanatha.

Basava was born in 1131 CE in Basavana Bagewadi, Karnataka, to a Kannada Orthodox Brahmin family who were devoted to the Hindu deity Vishnu. He spent twelve years studying in the Shaivite school of learning at Sangameshwara in Kudalasangama. Basava married his cousin Gangambike, the daughter of the provincial prime minister of Bijjala, and worked as an accountant for the king. When his maternal uncle died, he became the chief minister of the kingdom, using the state treasury to initiate social reforms and religious movements focused on reviving Shaivism.

Basava&#39;s most significant contribution was the establishment of the Anubhava Mantapa, a public assembly and gathering where people could discuss spiritual, economic, and social issues of life. He composed poetry in the local language and spread his message to the masses. Basava&#39;s teachings emphasized that every human being was equal, irrespective of caste, and that all forms of manual labor were equally important. He believed that behavior, not birth, determined a true saint and Shaiva bhakta, and welcomed anyone to convert and be reborn into the larger family of Shiva devotees.

Basava vehemently condemned all forms of sacrifices, human or animal, and insisted on ahimsa or non-violence. His legacy is seen in the community he helped form, known as the Sharanas, largely concentrated in Karnataka but with a presence in other states of India and overseas. Michael estimates that towards the end of the 20th century, one-sixth of the population of the state of Karnataka, or about 10 million people, were Veerashaiva Lingayat or of the tradition championed by Basava. Basava&#39;s teachings continue to inspire people today, with his message of equality, non-violence, and social reform remaining relevant

Basava was a religious and social reformer in 12th-century South India who is credited with uniting diverse spiritual traditions of the time. His movement, Virashaivism, tended towards monotheism with Shiva as the godhead but with a strong awareness of the unity of the Ultimate Reality. Basava&#39;s approach emphasized the path of devotion, in contrast to Shankara&#39;s emphasis on the path of knowledge.

Basava advocated the wearing of Ishtalinga, a necklace with a pendant that contains a small Shiva linga, and was driven by his realization that one&#39;s own awareness is their teacher. Many contemporary Vachanakaras have described him as Swayankrita Sahaja, which means &quot;self-made&quot;.

Basaveshwara&#39;s legacy is celebrated through monuments and recognition. He has a statue in the Parliament of India and is the first Kannadiga in whose honor a commemorative coin has been minted in recognition of his social reforms. The Basava Dharma Peetha has also constructed a 108 ft (33 m) tall statue of Basava in Basavakalyana. In 2015, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated a statue of Basaveshwara along the bank of the river Thames in London.

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Basava was a philosopher and poet who lived in the 12th century in Karnataka, India. He is known for his contribution to the development of the Virashaiva Lingayat movement, which championed devotional worship of Lord Shiva. Basava&#39;s philosophy emphasized constant personal spiritual development, treating one&#39;s own body and soul as a temple, and rejecting externalization of god. His approach was akin to the protestant movement, and he championed the use of the vernacular language, Kannada, in all spiritual discussions. Basava established the Anubhava Mantapa, a hall for gathering and discussion of spiritual ideas by any member of the society from both genders, where ardent devotees of Shiva shared their achievements and spiritual poems in the local language. Basava&#39;s literary works include various Vachanas and the Basava Purana, which are revered in the Veerashaiva Lingayat community.

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