The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s8.57

v1.c11.s8.57

Thus supported by his abler nephew, Basava used his official position to initiate vigorous propaganda in favour of the rejuvenated faith which he had espoused, and his efforts in this direction issued in the persecution and sometimes extermination of various other religious sects, including that of Jainism. These proceedings roused the suspicion and mistrust of Bijjala, who is often represented as having been himself a Jain, and there were besides rival ministers like Maṇcaṇṇa who fanned into flame the embers of the king's uneasiness. The crisis came when Bijjala caused two pious Lingāyats, Halleyaga and Madhuvayya, to be blinded; Basava then fled to Kūḍali-Saṅgama and deputed one of his followers, Jagaddeva, to slay the king, which he did in open court with the aid of two of his friends. Civil war ensued. Basava was absorbed into the deity of Kūḍal Saṅgama, and Canna-Basava fled to Ujavi in North Kanara, where he found refuge in a cave. Such, in the main, is the account given in the *Basava-purāṇa*.