Sangameshwara Temple, Kudalasangama – History

Sangameshwara Temple, Kudalasangama – History

The temple was built by Chalukya emperor Pulikesi in 740 CE. An inscription dated to 1160 CE records the gift of lands to the deities, Kaleshvara and Acheshvara. Another inscription dated to 1213 CE records a gift made to the Lord Acheshvara of this temple. The temple is associated with the 12^th century poet, Basaveshwara. It is believed that in the 12^th century Jathaveda Muni Sarangamath had established an education centre here and Basaveshvara, Channabasavanna and Akkanagamma were students.

Basaveshwara / Basavanna was a 12^th century CE Indian statesman, poet, philosopher, social reformer and Lingayat saint in the Shiva focussed bhakti movement during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya / Kalachuri dynasty. Basava was active during the rule of both dynasties but reached the peak of his influence during the rule of King Bijjala II in Karnataka, India. Basava spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanas.

He rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals but introduced Ishta Linga necklace, with an image of the Shiva Linga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one's devotion to Lord Shiva. As the chief minister of his kingdom, he introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mandapa which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.

The traditional legends and hagiographic texts state Basava to be the founder of the Lingayats. However, modern scholarship relying on historical evidence such as the Kalachuri inscriptions state that Basava was the poet philosopher who revived, refined and energized an already existing tradition. The Basavarajadevara Ragale (13 out of 25 sections are available) by the Kannada poet Harihara (1180 CE) is the earliest available account on the life of the social reformer and is considered important because the author was a near contemporary of his protagonist. 

A full account of Basava's life and ideas are narrated in a 13^th century CE sacred Telugu text, the Basava Purana by Palkuriki Somanatha. Basava literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language. He is also known as Bhakti Bhandari (the treasurer of devotion) and Basavanna. Basava was born in 1131 CE in the town of Basavanna Bagewadi in the northern part of Karnataka, to Maadarasa and Madalambike, a Kannada Orthodox Brahmin family devoted to Hindu deity Vishnu. 

He was named Basava, a Kannada form of the Sanskrit Vrishabha in honour of Nandi bull (mount of Lord Shiva) and the local Shaivism tradition. Basava grew up in Kudalasangama, near the banks of rivers Krishna and its tributary Malaprabha. Basava spent twelve years studying in the Hindu temple in the town of Kudalasangama, at Sangameshwara then a Shaivite school of learning, probably of the Lakulisa Pasupatha tradition. Basava married Gangambike, a cousin from his mother's side.

Her father was the provincial prime minister of Bijjala, the Kalachuri king. He began working as an accountant to the court of the king. When his maternal uncle died, the king invited him to be the chief minister. The king also married Basava's sister named Nagamma. As chief minister of the kingdom, Basava used the state treasury to initiate social reforms and religious movement focussed on reviving Shaivism, recognizing and empowering ascetics who were called Jangamas. 

One of the innovative institutions he launched in the 12^th century CE was the Anubhava Mandapa, a public assembly and gathering that attracted men and women across various walks of life from distant lands to openly discuss spiritual, economic and social issues of life. He composed poetry in local language and spread his message to the masses. His teachings and verses such as Kayakave Kailasa (Work is Worship) became popular. He spent 12 years of his life at Kudalasangama and attained Jeeva Samadhi here.

Several works are attributed to Basava, which are revered in the Virashaiva Lingayat community. These include various Vachana such as the Shat Sthala Vachana (discourses of the six stages of salvation), Kala Jnana Vachana (forecasts of the future), Mantra Gopya, Ghatachakra Vachana and Raja Yoga Vachana. The Basava Purana, a Telugu biographical epic poem, first written by Palkuriki Somanatha in 13^th century CE and an updated 14^th century CE Kannada version, written by Bhima Kavi in 1369 CE are sacred texts in Virashaiva Lingayat.

Other hagiographic works include the 15^th century CE Mala Basava Raja Charitre and the 17^th century CE Vrishabhendra Vijaya, both in Kannada. Basava's poem, such as Basavanna 703, speak of strong sense of gender equality and community bond, willing to wage war for the right cause, yet being a fellow devotees' bride at the time of his or her need.