SOCIAL REFORM AND EQUALITY IN BASAVESHWARA'S THOUGHT

Abstract

Basaveshwara or Basavanna was an Indian philosopher, poet, statesman, and social reformer of the 12 th century who influenced the culture and religion of Karnataka and other places profoundly. He was born in 1131 CE in Basavana Bagewadi and had opposed the prevailing caste system, gender inequality, superstitions, and the rules of rituals that were prevalent in the Hindu society of that time. Being one of the prominent representatives of Bhakti movement and the founder of Lingayatism, Basaveshwara desired the society in which individuals were evaluated based on their personality and actions, rather than birth. He created the Anubhava Mantapa, an open-minded and democratic spiritual and social platform that gave everyone of all castes, classes, and genders the chance to communicate and exchange their experiences and ideas. He also taught the nobility of labour (Vachanas), sharing of wealth equally (Dasoha) and monotheism, non-violence and the empowerment of women through his Vachanas (little songs) in Kannada. His philosophy emphasised universal brotherhood, opposition to social hierarchies, and supported a rational, humanistic view of life with the focus on the devotion to Shiva. The reforms of Basaveshwara were early foretellers of contemporary concepts of social justice and had a predecessor effect on subsequent movements and philosophers. This paper discusses the life of Basaveshwara, his thoughts, his caste and gender reforms, the significance of Anubhava Mantapa and Veerashaiva movement, his work in literature and the enduring legacy. It relies on historical accounts, scholarly literature, and his personal works to suggest that the reasoning of Basaveshwara is still applicable to addressing the problems of inequality and social division of 21 st century. Through the secondary sources, the paper demonstrates that his visionary thoughts led a more just society, which made him one of the pioneers of complete revolution in Indian history.