Basava Jayanthi

Basava Jayanthi (Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya) is the most important festival of the Lingayats. It marks the birthday of Basavanna, the founding saint of the Lingayat sect. It is celebrated with much pomp and gaiety all over south India (majorly in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh). Basaveshwara (Guru Basavanna: 1134 AD - 1196AD) was a 12th century philosopher and a social reformer from Karnataka. He was referred to as Bhakti Bhandari (Champion of Devotion) and is renowned for his Vachana sahitya (a form of writing in Kannada).

He was a great revolutionary who established a spiritual democracy called "Anubhava Mantapa" in the 12th Century. (Anubhava Mantapa is also called as the "First Parlimant concept of the World". It was lead by Saint Allamprabhu). He is known to have given practical solutions to all kind of problems that mankind suffered from, at that time. His teachings are believed to be time tested, scientific and proven. Basava-Tatva is the never ending inspiration to achieve the welfare of mankind.

Basava took birth in the Ananda Nama (Samvatsara) year in Rohini (Nakshatra) star. Since a new era began with the birth of the great prophet Basavanna, the people have adored that year as 'Basava Era'. All panchangas used in the Basava Era, begin their count from Basava Jayanthi. In 2013 Basava Shakhe is 880.