VIRASAIVISM
A SAIVITE REVOLUTION IN KARNATAKA
Keywords:
VIRASAIVISM, Hinduism, Saivism, Lingayat, Jangama, Padodaka, Prasada, Vibhuti, Rudraksha, MantraAbstract
Virasaivism is a strong and flourishing religious tradition in the Saivite sect within Hinduism with an antiquity of Hinduism itself. It was Basava who gave a definite shape to this tradition in the 12th century in Karnataka. The aim of this essay is to give a short and comprehensive account of Vírasaivism with a view to shed some light on the multifaceted development of popular Hinduism.
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