History

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Basava Dharma Peeta (Regd. Trust)Mahamane Complex, Kudala Sangama – 587141, Tq. Hungund, Dist. Bijapur

Vishwaguru Basavanna, who came into the world in the twelfth century, was a humanist, a great guru, a man of the sacred word, and a champion of equality. Grieved to see this workshop of the Creator in the mortal world disfigured by selfish people and entrenched interests through distinctions of varna, caste, class and status, he took up reform out of unique devotion to God, love for creation and ardent love for humankind. He sowed human values in people’s hearts and strove to build a Kalyana Rajya — a welfare state free of caste, varna and class. Holding that dharma is the means and the welfare of the world the goal, he proclaimed a religious equality and freedom that gave the Ishtalinga — the sign and emblem of faith — to everyone without discrimination. Having discovered and given the Ishtalinga, the noblest emblem through which the Universal Soul is contemplated in the form of the universe, he became the founder of the “Lingayat Dharma”, and established in society an equality the world had never seen or heard of. So that the grace of dharma might enter the homes and hearts of ordinary people, he gave the world the vachana literature, and through the Anubhava Mantapa, a model institution, he gave initiation and religious training to all who sought it. Countless people denied religious rites for centuries bathed in the sacred waters of Basava Dharma and were sanctified. Just as the United Nations deliberates on the problems of all humankind, the Anubhava Mantapa reflected on the problems of human society and offered sound solutions. A gathering of Sharanas without parallel in the religious history of the world flourished. People rushed from every corner of India to work shoulder to shoulder in Vishwaguru Basavanna’s noble mission. Through lofty thought and supreme sacrifice they became immortal souls. More than this, when the constitution of vachana literature was endangered by casteists, they were ready even to give their lives.

Guru Basavanna was not a person confined to any one caste or creed; he did not try to create a caste. He was a great humanist who strove to give all of humankind the right to God, to faith and to worship, and the means to live as equals. Basavanna’s aspiration was that the “Lingavantas” (devotees of God) — who wear the universal consciousness, made small, as the Ishtalinga upon their bodies — should work as volunteers to build a “Kalyana Rajya” free of distinctions of caste, varna, class and gender. It was Guru Basavanna’s dream that religious institutions, on the model of the Anubhava Mantapa, should become centres of knowledge that organise and refine people.

But what came to pass? Later followers did not realise the Guru’s heartfelt dreams. They did not keep to the path he walked and showed. The later generations did not welcome everyone as the great humanist Guru Basava had welcomed them, with a mother’s heart. So today we see a society wounded throughout. We mostly see followers full of conduct and speech contrary to the thought of Dharmaguru Basavanna, disregarding the constitution of vachana literature, unworthy of the Sharana path, full of division and delusion, ignorance and superstition. Is this right? Therefore everyone must today make an honest effort at self-examination, and put this derailed carriage of society back on its rails.

By the divine inspiration of Sri Guru Basavanna, at the holy place of Kudala Sangama where he merged with the Linga, a trust named “Basava Dharma Peeta” was formally established on 30-7-1987, Shravana Shuddha Basava Panchami, and registered with the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Belagavi, under Section 18 of the Bombay Trusts Act of 1950.

So that it could begin work at once, the trust was started with three members, and there is room for three more to join. It is open to all who read the rules of Basava Dharma Peeta and commit to certain distinctive principles.

Poojya Sri Sadguru Lingananda Swamiji as honorary president of Basava Dharma Peeta, and Poojya Sri Jagadguru Mate…

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Source: Sharanakirana, January 1988