Basaveshwara Temple, Basavana
Bagewadi – History
The temple
was constructed in 11th century by the Western Chalukyas. The temple
is maintained by the Kudala Sangama Development Board. Basavana Bagewadi is
considered as the birth place of Basavana, the philosopher of
the Lingayat sect. The three important places connected with life of
Basavanna are Basavana Bagewadi, the place of his birth, Kudala Sangama, the
place of his spiritual education and where he spent his last days, and Basava
Kalyana, where he served as a minister and started the social revolution.
Basaveshwara / Basavanna was a 12th 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 13th 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 12th
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 in
Kudalsangama.
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 13th century CE and an updated 14th century
CE Kannada version, written by Bhima Kavi in 1369 CE are sacred texts
in Virashaiva Lingayat.
Other hagiographic works include the 15th century CE
Mala Basava Raja Charitre and the 17th 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.
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