Basavanna's Dream Comes True

21. The Dream Comes True

Basavanna wanted to build an ideal society. And hence he started experimenting on the basis of religion in the Anubhava Mantapa. When he became the Prime Minister, it enabled him to implement this in all embracing scale in the society Recognition of low and high based pm caste; occupation based concepts of superiority and inferiority based on occupation and determination of status on the basis of wealth had no place in the community of the followers of Basavanna. It was considered that all were children of God and hence equal. Once the people come to this fold of society, they would be absolved of all the attached castes of the past. And they also would to be devoted and attain the state of being Sharana just similar to how the rivers lose their form, taste and colour once they join ocean and become one with it.

All the followers of Basavaism never touched anything which they did not earn by work. Each and everyone earned money by dedicated work. They lead a very simple life. sufficing the daily necessities they used to distribute the remaining wealth to the society through DAASOHA.

Proliferation of religion and education became possible after Jangama system (Missionary system) was started by Basavanna. Though these Jangamas were like the Bhikkus of Buddha there were many differences. Some Jangamas were married. They used to spread the religion by giving discources on practises and philosophy of Basavaism. They used to maintain their families with the help of rewards or donations received in return for their work. These were called SABHAARI JANGAMAS. Other Jangamas were unmarried and yearning for salvation. They were not tied by any worldly desires. They were called NIRABHARI JANGAMAS. They never used to stay in any place for a long time. They used to be always moving from one place to another like- these were called CHARA JANGAMAS (means moving Jangamas). After spreading the religion in different places, they used to appoint Jangamas permanantly in such of those places to guide the converted people by preaching them the essence of the religion and helping them to practice it. The most learned and virtuous Chara Jangamas used to visit their centres and guide them regularly. Basavanna describes these in his Vachana ''the preachings of Guru is like a doctor's treatment and preachings by Jangama is like a surgeon's operation.'' The CHARA JANGAMAS are like today's visiting professors and visiting surgeons.

The status of Jangama was not decided on the basis of caste but on the basis of spiritual knowledge. Only those who had become superior by spritual attainment were and dedicated to spread the religion were called Jangamas. The most important and remarkable works taken up by the Sthira Jangamas included the establishement of saale(School) matts and Dasoha matts. The sthira jangamas used to collect children and were given education in these saale matts. They used to collect funds, materials and grains from the people and arrange food and other comforts to the travellers and pilgrims at dasoha matts. Such Dasoha mutts can still be seen on the ways to well known pilgrim centres.

The road to Srishaila is tough, terrible and one has to pass through forests. Even these terrible roads we can find Dasoha matts. Still we can see the swami's of Basava tradition rendering their invaluable services in Dasoha Centres.

Apart from these service centres, Basavanna had also established Satyagraha centres to cleanse the society. There were some groups called Ganachari groups. If any immoral act is committed by an individual or a mass of people, these Ganachari Jangamas used to go to them and undertake fasting. In order to arouse the public awareness and bring them to the moral path the Ganachari Jangamas used to hug up pillars of the sinners, houses or stand with a heavy boulder on their head or stand on nails fixed to wooden planks or stand with iron needles pearced a cross their mouth.

Basavanna employed some programmes for recreations and some for enrichment of knowledge. There were primely fun-fairs, fancy dresses, folk dances, singing vachanas. Jangamas used to entertain the people by telling humurous stories, exhibiting different episodes of history, Purana-epics through fancy dress, presenting the stories of sharanas by folk dances and singing vachanas with music. Thus, the Jangama system (missionary system) came into being in different forms and became the means for the overall development of the society. When the great virtuous Allamaprabhu became aware of all these things he was attracted by Basavanna's tremendous achievements. He moved towards Kalyana. On the way he met Siddarameswara and took him also to Kalyana.

The town Kalyana was the centre of the movement, and Anubhava Mantapa had become a platform for the revolution. To that lamp, Basavanna poured the oil of religious values and gave the `wick' of morality. The lamp glowed with immense light. All those who wanted to make their lives divine assembled at Kalyana.

Kalyana Rajya (Welfare State) fashioned by Basavanna was highly meaningful Akkamahadevi describes it in these words:

Others should not go to Kalyana,
It is impossible !
Those who have not renounced the
worldly desires should never go there.
Kalyana is not the place for egoistic ones
Kalyana is not the place for those
Who are not pure both in and out.
With blessings of Channa Mallikarjuna
I conquerred all attachments and am able to see Kalyana.
My salutations to Kalyana !

These are the qualifications to enter Kalyana ! First of all, Kalyana is the kingdom of God and secondly it is an ideal society established by Basavanna. Therefore in order to get the membership of Anubhava Mantapa these are the characters one should possess.

What are the essential qualities to build a welfare state ? There should not be any desires & temptations. The personal desires should be sacrificed for the welfare of all. One should be attached to the ideals without being attracted by the desires. One should lead a holy life both internally and externally. The one who wants to build a welfare state should become selfless and surrender to the society. It is difficult to build a welfare state if one has self pride, which is also dangerous to the society. All these are the qualities the socialism. Since Basavanna's socialism was fashioned with a spiritual background knowing one's own-self was also equally important. The development of ones own inner knowledge was as important as the development of the wealth of the society and the Nation.

Not only these, there was no discrimination between man and woman. There was equal opportunity for both to develop and progress . There is no room for exploitation of weaker section. There is no feeling that man was independent and woman was dependent. This type of ideal society which has equal opportunity for all is the welfare state.

Basavanna succeeded in building such a welfare state.