Mysuru: Kundur Mutt Seer Dr. Sharath Chandra Swamiji released a documentary on Basavanna at a programme organised by Mysore Open Forum at Kalpa Kshetra Auditorium in Vijayanagar Fourth Stage here this morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Documentary Director Dr. Anil Kumar said that the documentary features the life of the 12th century social reformer Basavanna right from his birth, the movement he launched for bringing about equality in the society and his death. The documentary is produced by Kalpa Heritage Foundation, he said adding that the documentary is a brief description in full of his entire life.

“The Foundation in the past, has produced documentaries on Purandaradasa, Mysore Vasudevacharya and other prominent personalities. Resource persons were sent to Vijayapura, Basavana Bagewadi, Basavakalyana and other places where Basavanna lived and held his ‘Anubhava Mantapa’ meetings to gather information on the life of Basavanna. The documentary was also produced based on the inputs provided by Hiremath Samsthana of Bhalki,” Dr. Anil Kumar said adding that the people of that region are still following Basavanna’s preachings on equality.

Dr. Sharath Chandra Swamiji, in his address, said that watching the documentary, one feels like going into the age of Basavanna. Stating that the documentary is a very meaningful one on the life of Basavanna, he said that it is unfortunate that most of the people do not have an understanding of Basavanna and such other great saints, Philosophers and the like.

“Basavanna was not just a social reformer. Most of his Vachanas contained spiritual thoughts,” he said adding that most of the people have been unable to understand Basavanna properly.

Maintaining that Basavanna is not limited to just one community, he said that Basavanna is like a ladder to reach the God through humanity. The seer asked the people to read Sri Kumaraswamiji’s ‘Shunya Sampadane’ book  to have a proper understanding of Basavanna’s Vachanas.

Star of Mysore Founder-Editor Dr. K.B. Ganapathy (KBG), who presided, said that Basavanna’s Vachanas are as relevant today as when he preached them.

Lamenting that casteism is increasing because the followers of these great philosophers and spiritual masters, bound and limited them to the castes they belonged to, he said that a spiritual leader who can guide the present day people towards a casteless society is yet to be born.

Stating that all religions and spiritual masters born in India were influenced by the Vedas and Upanishads, he said that most of the teachings of all the Indian religions have derived their ideas from Vedas. Basavanna’s Vachanas too are influenced by Vedas and Upanishads to same extent.

KBG appreciated the efforts of Dr. Anil Kumar in producing the documentary in Kannada, a language in which Basavanna wrote and sang his Vachanas.