The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c6.s5.1

c6.s5.1

The Kalachuris, or Kalachuryas, did not hold the country for long; but the short period during which they did occupy it, about twenty-one years, was a time of great unrest, due, chiefly, to the rebellion of Basava and the establishment of the new Liṅgāyat creed. We are told that the Kalachuris were Jains, but that Bijjala showed considerable favour and partiality towards the Śaivas. Basava was born of Brāhman parents of the Śaiva cult, who, by his peculiar ideas regarding the worship of Śiva, and his remarkable abilities, attracted considerable attention. He had a beautiful sister whom Bijjala married, and this led to Basava being eventually appointed minister and general, into whose hands Bijjala entrusted all the affairs of the state. The powers and honours thus thrust upon him soon turned his mind from allegiance to his master to thoughts of self-aggrandizement and a desire to usurp full sovereign power. At the same time he arrogated to himself divine authority, believing, or, at least, asserting himself to be an incarnation of Nandi, the sacred bull of Śiva. He abolished the distinction of caste among his followers. The principal, if not sole, object of worship, was the *liṅga*, and the followers of this new form of religion wore miniature *liṅgas* in silver boxes suspended from their necks. "The chief characteristics of their faith and practices are adoration of the *liṅga* and of Śiva's bull Nandi, hostility to Brāhmans, disbelief in the transmigration of the soul, contempt for child marriage, and approval and habitual practice of the remarriage of widows. They are found chiefly in the Kanarese country; their vernacular is Kanarese; and it is due almost to them that this beautiful, highly polished, and powerful language has been preserved, in later times, amidst the constant inroads of the Marāṭhās from the north. They now constitute about thirty-five per cent. of the total Hindu population in the Belgaum, Bijāpūr and Dhārwār Districts."¹ The Liṅgāyats were particularly hostile towards the Jains, and, wherever they could, they appropriated their temples as well as those of the orthodox Hindus.