Basaveshwara

Why in news?

• Kannada community in UK paid tribute to Basaveshwara recently.

Lord Basavanna:

• Lord Basavanna was a 12th-century poet-philosopher, statesman and a social reformer, who lived during the reign of Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Karnataka, India.
• He spread social awareness through his poetry, known as Vachanas.
• He introduced public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa, where all manner of people could discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.
• Basavanna rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals. But he introduced ‘ishtalinga necklace’, to be a constant reminder of one's devotion to Shiva
• In November 2015, a statue of Basavanna was inaugurated along the bank of river Thames at Lambeth in London, UK.

Prelims Question:

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Basavanna’:
1.He was a poet-saint who lived in Karnataka
2.He is credited for his poetry works called ‘Vachanas’
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question