Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet and a social reformer who lived in Karnataka during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I.
He served as the chief minister of his kingdom.
Basavanna rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals.
During his tenure as Chief Minister, he introduced many new public institutions like Anubhava Mantapa (“hall of spiritual experience”) that would facilitate men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to have a healthy and open discuss on various spiritual and mundane questions of life.
A 13th-century sacred Telugu text, the Basava purana by Palkuriki Somanatha offers a full account of Basava’s life and ideas.
He used Vachana form of writing style to spread social awareness and bring equality in the 12th-century society.
Vachana is a prosaic form very much popular in the Kannada literature. It propagates values of universal brotherhood.
Why in news? Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled translated volumes of Vachana in 23 Indian languages on the occasion of Basava Jayanti.
can you provide more on vachanas please !!!!