Basava (c.1105–67,) also Basaveshwara and Basavaṇṇa, was a Hindu religious and social reformer, teacher, theologian, and poet who played a prominent role in the twelfth-century Hindu Bhakti (devotion) Movement.
According to South Indian oral tradition, Basava is the founder of the Liṅgāyata (or Vīraśaiva, “wearers of the liiṅga”) sect, a monotheistic offshoot of the Hindu religion. Some historians suggest, however, that Basava only revived a prevailing religious movement rather than establishing a new denomination. Men and women of the Liṅgāyat sect wear a Linga, a votary object representing the Hindu God Śiva, hanging by a thread around their necks in place of the sacred thread worn by upper-caste Hindu men.
Basava is the theme of the Kannada language Basava Purāṇa, one of the sacred texts of the Liṅgāyats. The Basava Purāṇa, written in the fourteenth century by Bhīma Kavi, is based on an earlier Telugu language version by Palkuriki Somanatha.
Born a high caste Brahmin and trained in Sanskrit texts, Basava rejected the orthodox beliefs of his lineage. Social reforms featured prominently in Basava’s theology. He rejected the authority of the Vedas, as well as the doctrine of transmigration of souls, child marriage, and ill-treatment of widows. With the influence of his uncle (also his father-in-law,) who was a provincial prime minister, Basava became chief of the treasury.
Through his office, Basava favorably sponsored Liṅgāyat guilds to help spread the Liṅgāyat sect. However, his community of followers turned egalitarian and faced much antagonism by the traditionalists. Following widespread disgruntlement over the flourishing of previleged Liṅgāyat mendicants under his subjective patronage, Basava left the kingdom and died soon after that.
Basava preached about the immorality of caste, rejected social order, and insisted that devotees find their connection with God. His teachings focus on the recasting of the body as the true temple—this theme is often expressed in his vachanas (“sayings” or “talks,”) poetic lyrics written in the Kannada language.
Basava addresses his vachanas to Śiva in the form of “Lord of Kudalasaṅgama” (“the lord of the meeting rivers,”) the site of his spiritual retreat located where the Kṛṣṇa River is joined by its tributary Malaprabha River. Prominent translations of the vachanas include the Indian literary scholar A. K. Rāmanujan’s Speaking of Siva (1973.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Basava
Oh! Lord
Your blessing can sprout a dry log
Your blessing can milk a barren cow
Your blessing can turn poison to nectar
Your blessing can make all my wishes come true.
—Basava
There is no hell or heaven somewhere else, the hell is right here, when you are dishonest. The heaven is right here when you conduct yourself with honesty and truthfulness.
—Basava
What is the point of getting angry with others who are angry with you? Getting angry is senseless. It is self-destructive. If you have fire in your house it will burn down your own house, Likewise your anger will hurt you. Oh Lord, help me to deal with my anger.
—Basava
There is none lower than me! There is none higher than devotees of the Lord. You are witness to my devotion to you, Lord your grace is my life.
—Basava
My actions are contrary to what I speak, I am not truthful & honest. If I follow up my good speech with good actions, then the Lord will bless me.
—Basava
If one helps someone without whole-heartedness, if one gives donation to show-off, then it is not true helping or giving. If you give with your willingness, without expecting anything in returns that is the true giving. The Lord will bless such actions.
—Basava
A dishonest person pretending as a great man, The Lord would know that he is dishonest. Lord will not bless such pretenders. Lord will bless those who are truthful in their hearts and conduct.
—Basava
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