Mysore: A grand procession, in which hundreds took part, marked Basava Jayanti celebrations organised by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha – Veerashaiva Lingayatha Sangha Samsthegalu haagu Basava Balagagala Okkuta, Mysuru, in city this morning.

Basavanna’s statue near Gun House Circle was garlanded by Seers of various Mutts, members of a host of associations and organisations, political leaders and others.

The procession began from Basaveshwara statue with the performance of Nandi Dhwaja puja, in the divine presence of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, Saragur’s Sri Paduvala Mutt Seer Sri Mahadeva Swamiji, Hosmutt’s Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Alamatti’s Sri Annadaneshwara Puravara Hiremutt Seer Dr. Sri Rudramuni Swamiji and other Seers.

The procession, accompanied by a host of folk and cultural troupes, passed through Pathashala Circle, Chamaraja Double Road, Ramaswamy Circle, JLB Road and Vinoba Road, before reaching Kalamandira, where the two-day stage programme will take place.

Four magnificently decorated silver chariots carrying the statues of Basavanna too were part of the procession.

District Minister G.T. Devegowda (GTD), MLA L. Nagendra, former MLA M.K. Somashekar, Corporator B.V. Manjunath and several other political leaders were present.

A spirited GTD danced for a few minutes, much to the delight of the gathering.

However, the celebration by the District Administration was a low-key affair on account of the model code of conduct.

ADC G. Anuradha, DCP M. Muthuraj, Kannada and Culture Assistant Director H. Channappa, MCC Additional Commissioner Shivanandamurthy and other officials garlanded the statue of Basaveshwara at Gun House Circle.

In another celebration, members of University of Mysore (UoM) Vishwamanava Naukarara Vedike garlanded the statue of Basaveshwara and offered floral tributes.

UoM Registrars Prof. Lingaraj Gandhi and Prof. K.M. Mahadevan, Oriental Research Institute (ORI) Director Prof. S. Shivarajappa, Vedike President R. Vasudeva, Secretary Vinod, Maharani’s Science College Computer Science Department faculty Dr. Siddaraju, Prof. Jagadish of Nanjangud and others were present.

‘Basavanna propagated Manavadharma’

Speaking after inaugurating the stage programme at Kalamandira, Padma Vibhushan Dr. M.N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justice of India (CJI), said that Basavanna was a 12th century social reformer who propagated Manavadharma.

Pointing out that Basavanna, a great humanist that he was, spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanas, he said that the philosopher rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals.

Regretting that mere sloganeering is causing rifts in religions and communities, the former CJI stressed on the need for practising Basavanna’s Vachanas in life.

Noted Historian S. Shettar, in his keynote address, highlighted the research being carried out on Basavanna’s Vachanas.

Explaining Basavanna’s concept of ‘Anubhava Mantapa,’ he said that extensive research is being carried out on Basavanna’s philosophies.

Maintaining that understanding of Basavanna’s Vachanas will greatly help in eradicating the social evils that have been haunting the society for long, he said that Vachanas were a means to resolve disputes and issues.

He also called for resolving Veerashaiva-Lingayat issues through amicable dialogues.

Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, Vijayapura’s Jnana Yogashrama Seer Siddeshwara Swamiji, Shivaganga Kshetra’s Sri Mela Gavimutt Seer Sri Malayashanthamuni Shivacharya Swami, City Police Commissioner K.T. Balakrishna, Basava Balagagala Okkuta President Jaya Gowda, Akihila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha District President S. Shivamurthy Kanya, MLC Marithibbegowda, ex-MLC Thontadarya and others were present.

Second day’s prog. tomorrow (May 8) will begin with Vachana Gayana by Shobha Jayaprakash and team at 9.30 am, followed by a discourse by Siddeshwara Swamiji and an interactive session on ‘Varthamaanakke Sharanara Chintanegalu,’ in which writers such as Jaraganahalli Shivashankar, Dr. Basavaraj Saadara, Prof. Kiran Desai and D.S. Sadashivamurthy will take part.

The Valedictory will take place in the afternoon, which will be presided by Kodimutt Seer Sri Shivananda Shivayogi Swamiji. Cultural programmes will follow.