About Basaveshwara (Basavanna)

• Basavanna was an Indian 12th-century statesman, philosopher, poet, Lingayat saint in the Shiva-focussed Bhakti movement, and Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty.
• Basavanna was active during the rule of both dynasties but reached his peak of influence during the rule of King Bijjala II in Karnataka.
• Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas. Basavanna rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals but introduced Ishtalinga 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 bhakti (devotion) to Shiva.
• As the chief minister of his kingdom, he introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa (“hall of spiritual experience”), which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.
• Basava championed devotional worship that rejected temple worship and rituals led by Brahmins, and replaced it with personalized direct worship of Shiva through practices such as individually worn icons and symbols like a small linga.
• Basaveshwara is the first Kannadiga in whose honour a commemorative coin has been minted in recognition of his social reforms.
• Basavanna literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language.
• He is also known as Bhaktibhandari (the treasurer of devotion), Basavanna or Basaveswara.

Sharana Movement (Vachana Movement)

• The Sharana movement Basaveshwara presided over attracted people from all castes, and like most strands of the Bhakti movement.
• The egalitarianism of Basavanna’s Sharana movement was too radical for its times.
• Sharanas challenged the caste order: they organised a wedding where the bridegroom was from a lower caste, and the bride a Brahmin.

Why in News?

• Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet-philosopher Basaveshwara lived for most of his life.

About the New Anubhava Mantapa

• The New Anubhava Mantapa, as envisaged now, will represent various principles of Basaveshwara’s philosophy.
• It will showcase the 12th Century Anubhava Mantapa (often referred to as the “first Parliament of the world”) established by him in Basavakalyan where philosophers and social reformers held debates.
• The building will adopt the Kalyana Chalukya style of architecture.
• The grand structure supported by 770 pillars will have an auditorium with a seating capacity of 770 people. It is believed that 770 Sharanas (followers of Basaveshwara) led the Vachana reformist movement in the 12th Century.

Kalyani Chalukya architecture

• Western Chalukya architecture also known as Kalyani Chalukya or Later Chalukya architecture, is the distinctive style of ornamented architecture that evolved during the rule of the Western Chalukya Empire in the Tungabhadra region of modern central Karnataka during the 11th and 12th centuries.
• Most notable of the many buildings dating from this period are the Mahadeva Temple, the Kasivisvesvara Temple, the Mallikarjuna Temple at Kuruvatti and the Kallesvara Temple (all are located in Karnataka).

Reference:

1.  https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/yediyurappa-lays-foundation-stone-for-new-anubhava-mantapa-at-basavakalyan/article33514139.ece