Basava Jayanti

Basavanna / Lord Shiva

Lingayat / Veerashaiva

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Basava Jayanti celebrates the birth of Basavanna (Basaveshwara), the 12th-century Kannada saint, philosopher, and social reformer who founded the Lingayat tradition. He introduced the Ishtalinga initiation, the Anubhava Mantapa (Hall of Spiritual Experience — perhaps the world's first parliament of spiritual equality), and composed hundreds of Vacanas (prose-poems) in Kannada that remain central to Lingayat spiritual life

Dates 2026–2027

April 20, 2026April 18, 2027

Mantra

ಓಂ ನಮಃ ಶಿವಾಯ

Om Namah Shivaya

Om Namah Shivaya — honouring Basavanna, who gave the world the Vachana philosophy and the way of the Ishtalinga

How to recite

Recite Basavanna's Vacanas (short philosophical poems) in Kannada throughout the day. His most celebrated Vacana begins: 'ಉಳ್ಳವರು ಶಿವಾಲಯ ಮಾಡುವರು ನಾನೇನು ಮಾಡಲಿ' (Those who have wealth build Shiva temples — what can I build? My body is the temple of Shiva).

Benefits

Basavanna (c.1131–1167 CE) was the social reformer and saint who founded the Lingayat movement in Karnataka. His Vachanas (spiritual verses) teach equality, devotion (bhakti), and service (kaya-kaya). Celebrating his Jayanti renews commitment to his values of equality and sincere Ishtalinga worship.

✦ Special Note

Basava Jayanti falls on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya — the same tithi as Akshaya Tritiya in the Hindu calendar. It is a day of community celebration, Vachana recitation, and reaffirmation of Basavanna's ideals of social equality and devotion. This is not a strict fast day — it is a day of joy, service, and sharing. Dates per the Kannada Drik Panchang (drikpanchang.com, Karnataka reckoning); jayanti/lingaikya days cross-checked with the Suttur Math, Murugha Math (Chitradurga), Rambhapuri Pitha and Kashi Pitha almanacs.

Foods Allowed

All vegetarian food — Basava Jayanti is a celebration, not a strict fastBisi bele bath (hot lentil rice with vegetables and spices) — ideal for partial or light fasting daysAkki roti (rice flour flatbread) with coconut chutney or shenga chutneyJolada roti (sorghum/jowar flatbread) with hulli (lentil curry)Shenga roti (peanut flatbread) — Karnataka specialtyAvalakki (flattened rice / poha) — with coconut, green chili, and curry leavesRagi mudde (finger millet balls) with hulli or sambarSajjige (semolina upma or sweet kesari with ghee)Shenga chutney (peanut chutney) — with coconut, tamarind, and green chiliCoconut-based dishes — coconut rice, coconut chutney, kosambari with grated coconutMilk-based sweets — mysore pak, holige (obbattu), payasaFresh fruits and coconutDry fruits and nuts

Foods to Avoid

Meat, fish, eggs — Lingayat tradition is strictly vegetarianAlcohol and intoxicantsOnion and garlic — avoided in the Lingayat tradition

Meal Idea

Traditional Karnataka prasad — jolada rotti with hulli (lentil curry), kosambari (dal salad), and holige (sweet flatbread) — shared at community gatherings in honour of Basavanna

🪔 Aarti

Om Jai Shiv Omkara

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा । ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥ एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे । हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥ दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे । त्रिगुण रूप निरखत त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥ अक्षमाला वनमाला मुंडमाला धारी । त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी ॥ श्वेतांबर पीतांबर बाघंबर अंगे । सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥ कर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी । सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका । प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये ये तीनों एका ॥ काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी । नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी ॥ त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे । कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे ॥

Karpur Gauram Karunavataram

कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥

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