• He was a 12th-century poet and philosopher.
• Founder of Lingayatism.
  • The term Lingayat denotes a person who wears a personal linga, an iconic form of God Shiva, on the body, which is received during the initiation ceremony.
• Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas.
• He developed and inspired a new devotional movement named Virashaivas.
• Social Reforms
  • He believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for all, and preached about manual hard work.
  • He also founded the Anubhava Mantapa, which was a common forum for all to discuss the prevailing problems of socio-economic and political strata.
• Key Principle
  • Anubhava (divine experience)
  • Arivu (true knowledge)
  • Achara (right conduct)

Source: The Hindu