The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s15.99

c8.s15.99

The *Channabasava-Purâṇa* gives a somewhat different account.² It places first the death of Basava, who, it says, was absorbed in Samgamêśvara in the month Phâlguna, falling in A. D. 785, of the Raktâkshin *samvatsara*, *Saka-Samvat* 707 (current);³ and the only reason that it assigns, is, that the news had reached Basava that a certain Prabhu, who was an incarnation of Śiva,⁴ had left Kalyâṇa and had been absorbed into Śiva in a plantain-tree at Śrîśaila. On the death of Basava, Bijjala appointed Channabasava to the office that had been held by his uncle. After this, the king caused the pious ‘Halleija’ and ‘Madhuvêija’ to be tied to a rope and dragged about the ground till they died. In revenge for this, Bijjala was slain by two torch-bearers, named Jagaddêva and Bommaṇa. Then Channabasava, who had meantime sent away many Lingâyats to Ulavi under the pretext of celebrating a feast in honour of the god Jamgamêśvara (? Samgamêśvara), gathered together his horses and men, and left Kalyâṇa to follow and join them. The “son-in-law” of Bijjala started in pursuit. And a battle ensued, in which the pursuers were destroyed, and the king was taken captive. At the advice of Nâgalâmbikâ, however, Channabasava restored the slain army to life; and, having impressed upon the king that he should not persecute the Lingâyats, as his predecessor had done, but should walk in righteousness, he anointed him, and sent him back to govern his country.⁵