Basavanna and the Virashaiva (Lingayat) Movement
Medieval History › Bhakti and Sufi Movement · Topic 5.5
The Virashaiva or Lingayat movement arose in twelfth-century Karnataka under Basavanna, a minister at the Kalachuri court, and his nephew Channabasava. They worshipped Shiva through a personal linga, composed vachanas in Kannada, opposed caste, fasts, pilgrimages and sacrifices, and opposed child marriage while allowing widow remarriage.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
At a Glance
- Founder or reviver Basavanna, 1131 to 1196
- Court Kalachuri kings of Karnataka
- Worship Shiva as a personal linga (Ishtalinga)
- Literature Vachanas in Kannada
- Opposed Caste, ritual, sacrifice, pilgrimage
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifth topic of the category on the Bhakti and Sufi movement. The previous topic covered the Tamil saints, and this topic covers the Kannada-speaking reform movement that came a little later in the south. The next topic covers Ramananda, who brought Bhakti into north India. Previous topic: South Indian Bhakti Saints – Alvars (Vaishnava) and Nayanars (Shaiva).
Who Was Basavanna?
In short: Basavanna was a twelfth-century Shaiva thinker and minister whose teachings started the Lingayat or Virashaiva movement against caste and ritual.
Basava was born at Basavana Bagewadi in a Kannada Brahman family devoted to Shiva, grew up at Kudalasangama and served the Kalachuri court as a chief minister, using state resources for reform. Another popular movement that arose in the twelfth century was the Lingayat or Virashaiva movement, whose founders were Basava and his nephew Channabasava, who lived at the court of the Kalachuri kings of Karnataka. They established their faith after bitter disputes with the Jains. Modern scholars see Basava as a reviver and refiner of an existing tradition more than the sole founder.
What Did the Movement Teach?
| Teaching | Detail |
|---|---|
| Worship | Worshippers of Shiva; each person wears a personal linga, the Ishtalinga, irrespective of birth |
| Language | Vachanas, short poems in Kannada, so that spiritual ideas reached ordinary people |
| Caste | Strongly opposed the caste system |
| Ritual | Rejected fasts, feasts, pilgrimages and sacrifices; condemned human and animal sacrifice; opposed Brahman-led temple worship |
| Social reform | Opposed child marriage and allowed remarriage of widows |
| Assembly | Anubhava Mantapa, a public assembly open to men and women of different backgrounds |
The movement drew people from many castes and gave women a role in the assembly. Later Lingayats formed a strong community of their own in Karnataka.
How Does It Fit with Other Bhakti Currents?
At the intellectual level, Hinduism faced Jain and Buddhist challenges and the revival of Shaivism and Vaishnavism took two forms: a renewed stress on the Vedas with great literary effort, and popular movements based on tantra in north India and Bhakti in south India. Both tantra and Bhakti disregarded caste inequalities and were open to all. The Lingayat movement was part of this popular stream, and with its rejection of ritual and caste it resembles the later nirguna teaching of Kabir. Its use of the vernacular, Kannada, fits the wider rise of regional languages during the medieval period.
Who Else Shaped the Movement and What Do Lingayats Practise?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Allama Prabhu | Presided over the Anubhava Mantapa, the forum for open discussion |
| Akka Mahadevi | A woman saint of the movement |
| Channabasava | Nephew of Basava |
| Panchacharas | Five codes of conduct |
| Shatsthala | Six-stage path to liberation |
| Customs | Strict vegetarianism and no liquor; burial of the dead, seated with the linga |
Lingayats are concentrated in Karnataka, where they are about a sixth of the population, with numbers in Maharashtra and Telangana. In 2017 and 2018 there was a campaign to recognise Lingayatism as a separate religion, which remains disputed.
What Is the Timeline of the Lingayat Movement?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1131 | Basava is born at Basavana Bagewadi |
| Mid-twelfth century | Basava serves the Kalachuri court and the Anubhava Mantapa is active |
| About 1180 | Harihara writes the Basavarajadevara Ragale, the earliest account |
| 1196 | Basava dies at Kudalasangama |
| Thirteenth century | Palkuriki Somanatha writes the Basava Purana in Telugu |
The years of birth and death are the ones most often given, though some works use a different range.
What Are the Sources and Debates?
The earliest account of Basava is the Basavarajadevara Ragale by Harihara, about 1180. The Basava Purana, in Telugu, was written in the thirteenth century by Palkuriki Somanatha. Many vachana collections were compiled long after his death, so their authenticity is uncertain. Historians also discuss his tensions with Jain communities and the reuse of Jain temples in medieval Karnataka. As an analytical point, the Lingayat movement was among the more radical medieval critiques of caste within Hinduism, but over time Lingayats too formed a caste-like community with its own rules, which shows how reform movements can harden into sects.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Reform A radical southern anti-caste movement
- Language Vachanas raised Kannada
- Link Parallels with other nirguna reformers
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Ramananda and his contribution to the Bhakti movement. Next topic: Ramananda and His Contribution to the Bhakti Movement.
Key People and Terms
- Basavanna Twelfth-century reformer
- Ishtalinga Personal linga worn by a devotee
- Vachana Short Kannada poem
- Anubhava Mantapa Open assembly
- Channabasava Nephew of Basava
- Kalachuri Dynasty of the court
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Basava and Channabasava: twelfth century.
- Ishtalinga for every devotee.
- Vachanas in Kannada.
- Opposed child marriage; allowed widow remarriage.
- Kalachuri court.
Do Not Confuse With
- Lingayats and Jains Shaiva reformers who disputed with Jain communities
- Basava and Basava Purana The reformer versus a thirteenth-century Telugu text
- Vachana and dohas Kannada short poems versus Hindi couplets
Memory Hook
Basava serves Kalachuris, shares the linga, writes vachanas, rejects the rite.
Mains Angle
Questions on Lingayats ask about reform and its limits. These points add depth.
- Reform Anti-caste, anti-ritual, pro-widow remarriage
- Language Kannada vachanas
- Outcome Formation of a new community
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the social teachings of Basavanna and the Lingayat movement.”
How to Answer
- Origin Twelfth-century Karnataka.
- Teaching Ishtalinga and vachanas.
- Reform Caste, ritual, child marriage.
- Outcome A distinct community.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Basavanna?
Basavanna, or Basava, was a twelfth-century Shaiva reformer of Karnataka who served at the Kalachuri court. With his nephew Channabasava he began the Lingayat or Virashaiva movement, which worshipped Shiva and opposed caste and ritual.
What are vachanas?
Vachanas are short poems in Kannada attributed to Basava and other Lingayat saints. They carried ideas of devotion and social criticism in the local language, though many collections were compiled long after his death and their authenticity is uncertain.
What is the Ishtalinga?
The Ishtalinga is the personal linga that each Lingayat devotee wears, a practice Basava promoted for all regardless of birth. It made worship a personal matter and replaced temple rituals led by Brahmans, so every devotee could worship without a priest as a go-between.
What reforms did the Lingayats support?
The Lingayats opposed the caste system, rejected fasts, feasts, pilgrimages and sacrifices, opposed child marriage and allowed widows to remarry. Basava also set up the Anubhava Mantapa, an open assembly for men and women to discuss spiritual and social questions.
Was Basava the sole founder of Lingayatism?
Hagiographies credit him with founding it, but modern scholars regard him as a reviver and refiner of an existing Shaiva tradition. The movement took shape through him, his nephew Channabasava and other saints such as Allama Prabhu and Akka Mahadevi over some time.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Basava served at the court of the Kalachuri kings.
He is described as a chief minister.
2 The Lingayat movement allowed the remarriage of widows.
It also opposed child marriage.
3 Basava's vachanas were composed in Sanskrit.
They were in Kannada.
4 Lingayats worship Vishnu.
They worship Shiva through a personal linga.
Related Topics
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