Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c19.10

c19.10

Basava was the son of a Brâhmaṇ named Mâḍirâja, who lived at Bâgevâḍi in the Kalâdgi district. Baḷadeva, the prime minister of Vijjaṇa, was his maternal uncle and gave him his daughter in marriage⁷. After Baḷadeva's death the king appointed Basava his [94] prime minister as being closely related to Baḷadeva⁸. The Jainas, however, state that Basava had a beautiful sister named Padmâvatî, of whom the king became enamoured and whom he either married or made his mistress⁹, and it was on that account that he was raised to that office and became a man of influence. There must be some truth in this story, for the Basava Purâṇa narrates that the king gave his younger sister Nîlalochanâ in marriage to Basava, which looks as if it were a counter-story devised to throw discredit on the other which was so derogatory to Basava.¹⁰ Basava had another sister named Nâgalâmbikâ, who had a son named Chenna-Basava or Basava the younger. In concert with him Basava began to propound a new doctrine and a new mode of worshipping Śiva, in which the Liṅga and the Nandin or bull were prominent. He speedily got a large number of followers, and ordained a great many priests, who were called Jaṅgamas. Basava had charge of the king's treasury, and out of it he spent large amounts in supporting and entertaining these Jaṅgamas, who led a profligate life. Vijjaṇa had another minister named Mañchaṇṇâ, who was the enemy of Basava, and informed the king of his rival's embezzlements.¹¹ In the course of time Vijjaṇa was completely alienated from Vasava and endeavoured to apprehend him. But he made his escape with a number of followers, where-upon the king sent some men in pursuit. These were easily dispersed by Basava, and then Vijjaṇa advanced in person. But a large number of followers now joined Basava, and the king was defeated and had to submit to his minister. Basava was allowed to return to Kalyâṇa and reinstated in his office.¹² There was, however, no possibility of a complete reconciliation, and after some time the leader of th new sect conceived the design of putting the king to death. The circumstances that immediately led to the deed and the manner in which it was perpetrated are thus stated in the Basava Purâna