https://wikimd.com/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=BasavaBasava - Revision history2026-04-08T01:17:10ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wikimd.com/index.php?title=Basava&diff=5622630&oldid=prevPrab: CSV import2024-04-18T00:51:39Z<p>CSV import</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Arjunavad-inscription.jpg|Arjunavad-inscription|thumb]] [[File:Kudala_Sangama.jpg|Kudala Sangama|thumb|left]] [[File:Necklace_with_Shiva's_Family_LACMA_M.85.140.jpg|Necklace with Shiva's Family LACMA M.85.140|thumb|left]] [[File:Bronze_bust_of_Basaveswara_on_Albert_Embankment_in_London,_facing_Parliament.JPG|Bronze bust of Basaveswara on Albert Embankment in London, facing Parliament|thumb]] '''Basava''' (also known as '''Basavanna''' or '''Basaveshwara''', 1105–1167 CE) was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet in the [[Shiva]]-focused [[Bhakti movement]] and a social reformer during the reign of the [[Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri]] dynasty in what is now [[Karnataka]], India. Basava championed the use of vernacular language, Kannada, in all spiritual discussions so that translation and interpretation by the elite class could be avoided. He introduced a new form of spiritual practice, called [[Anubhava Mantapa]], which means "the hall of spiritual experience", where spiritual and socio-economic ideas were debated and discussed among all people, irrespective of their gender or social standing.<br />
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==Life==<br />
Basava was born in the town of Basavan Bagewadi in the northern part of Karnataka, India, into a family that followed a tradition of [[Shaivism]]. As a young man, he showed little interest in the traditional occupations of his family and became a devotee of Lord Shiva. He left his home to become a part of the larger spiritual quest that was sweeping through the region. His teachings and poems, known as [[Vachanas]], critiqued the caste system and emphasized personal spiritual development over rigid ritualism.<br />
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==Philosophy and Teachings==<br />
Basava's philosophy, often encapsulated in his Vachanas, revolved around the concept of [[Ishvara]] (God) being within every individual and that all forms of manual labor are equally sanctified. He preached the importance of a direct and personal spiritual experience which he termed as "Kayaka" (work) and "Dasoha" (service). Basava advocated for a casteless society and encouraged women to actively participate in spiritual discussions, which was revolutionary at the time.<br />
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His teachings led to the establishment of a new spiritual movement known as [[Lingayatism]] or Veerashaivism, characterized by the wearing of a personal [[Linga]], a symbol of Shiva, by its followers. This movement laid the foundations for a social revolution in South India, challenging the prevailing societal norms and promoting values of equality, dignity, and self-awareness.<br />
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==Legacy==<br />
Basava's impact on the social and religious fabric of Karnataka and the broader Indian subcontinent is profound. He is revered as a saint in Lingayatism and is also considered one of the pioneers of the [[Bhakti movement]] in southern India. His work laid the groundwork for subsequent social reform movements and has been a source of inspiration for many social reformers in India over the centuries.<br />
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Basava's teachings and poems continue to be celebrated in Karnataka and by Lingayats worldwide. His birth anniversary, known as Basava Jayanthi, is observed as a major festival in Karnataka.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Lingayatism]]<br />
* [[Vachana Sahitya]]<br />
* [[Kannada Literature]]<br />
* [[Bhakti Movement]]<br />
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[[Category:Indian philosophers]]<br />
[[Category:Social reformers of India]]<br />
[[Category:Kannada poets]]<br />
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]<br />
[[Category:Lingayatism]]<br />
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