Basavanna
Religious Figures & Theologians • Historical Archive • 🇮🇳 India • 1 views

Basavanna 🇮🇳

ಬಸವಣ್ಣ
["Philosopher", "Lingayat Founder", "Statesman"]
Born c. 1105 🇮🇳 Basavana Bagewadi, India
Passed Away c. 1167 Kudalasangama, India
Lifespan ~62 years old
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Notice / Correction
"Work is worship; divine bliss is found not in temples made of stone, but in the living temple of the body."

Archival Overview

12th-century Kannada philosopher, statesman, and founder of the Lingayat movement who created the Anubhava Mantapa, the first democratic spiritual parliament.

Biographical Record

Basavanna was prime minister to King Bijjala II of the Kalachuri dynasty in Karnataka. Renouncing orthodox Brahminical privilege and temple rituals, he championed personal devotion to Shiva through the Ishtalinga worn on the body, abolishing caste and gender inequalities.

Basavanna established the Anubhava Mantapa ('Hall of Spiritual Experience'), where men and women of all social strata engaged in open theological and social debate. His poetic aphorisms (vachanas) formulated the principle 'Kayakave Kailasa' (Work is Worship), elevating manual labor to sacred worship.

Key Life Milestones

Anubhava Mantapa

Democratic Spiritual Parliament

Founded the Anubhava Mantapa in Kalyana, gathering mystics of all castes for egalitarian dialogue.

Vachana Philosophy

Kayaka and Dasoha Doctrines

Codified the revolutionary spiritual principles that labor is worship and wealth must be shared.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Kudalasangama Temple
Kudalasangama, India
GPS: 16.2089, 75.9867
View on Memory Atlas
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