Basaveshwara

Context: Karnataka Chief Minister 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.

• This project is aimed to highlight the teachings of Basaveshwara (an icon of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community).

Basaveshwara

• 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, India.
• 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 Liṅga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one's bhakti (devotion) to Shiva.
• Basavanna literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language.
• He is also known as Bhaktibhandari, Basavanna or Basaveswara.

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