Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva)

12th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Basava

Timeline (1134 - 1196)

Poems by Basava
Books - Links

Basava, Basava poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry, Shaivite (Shiva) poetry, poetry, poetry

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Basava, sometimes referred to reverently as Basavanna or Basaveshwara, was a twelfth century devotee of Shiva and early organizer of the Virasaiva Lingayata sect in the Kannada-speaking regions of southern India.

The Virasaivas were a Shiva bhakti movement that rejected the elaborate ritualism and strict caste system of orthodox Hinduism which favored the wealthy, and instead emphasized direct mystical experience available to all through deep devotion to God. In this sense, the Virasaiva movement was a mystical protestant movement that also asserted social equality and justice for the poor. As Lingayatas they worship Shiva in the form of a linga, the stone symbol that represents God as creative generator of the universe or, more deeply, as a representation of the Formless taking form.

Basavanna was orphaned at a young age but adopted by a wealthy family with political connections. He received a good education but rejected a life of comfort and prestige to become a wandering ascetic dedicated to Shiva.

He received enlightenment at a sacred meeting of rivers. This is why all of Basavanna's poems include a reference to Shiva as "the lord of the meeting rivers." This also has a deeper, esoteric meaning relating to the subtle energies awakened in the yogi's awareness.

However, he soon was given a divine command to return to worldly life. Basavanna initially resisted, but eventually yielded and returned to his adopted family. Before long he attained high political office while, simultaneously, forming the new populist mystical movement of Virasaivas into a coherent, egalitarian community. This community fostered many other great poet-saints, including

Poems by Basava

	Does it matter how long
	Feet will dance,
	Make of my body the beam of a lute
	The eating bowl is not one bronze
	The pot is a God. The winnowing
	The Temple and the Body
	The waters of joy
	This thing called bhakti
	Where they feed the fire

Recommended Books

Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan

Amazon.com

The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice, by Georg Feuerstein

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Vishwaguru Basava http://www.lingayathism.net/phpwebsite/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=10&MMN_position=7:7 A brief biography of Basava, along with other information on Lingayathism within the Hindu tradition.
	Basava http://www.answers.com/topic/basava Biography online.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Basava

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World