Speech In Sydney Chapter

Respected Guests, Invited dignitaries, Ladies and gentlemen, Executive members, members of Basav Samiti of Australasia and my dear kids. I am fortunate to stay and addressing the congregation of Basava Samiti of Australasia on the greatest day of Australia i.e. Anzac Day. I think it Is the first time in the History of Basava samiti of Australasia that celebration of anniversary of BSOA and Anzac Day on the same day.

Today you are celebrating Basava jayanti i.e. Birth anniversary of Basavanna in Australia organizing by BSOA since 15 years. It is obvious to know about Basvanna and his philosophy.

There is a saying ‘old patient is better than new doctor’. As an old patient knows the medicines better than a new doctor. Here I am a new Doctor you all are old patients. Because you know about Basavanna and his philosophy.

Today what I will do is just I try to make you recall whatever you heard about Basavanna and his philosophy. As you know Basavanna lived 850years ago. Though he was in Karnataka his philosophies are of worldwide importance.

It is better to know the history of Veerashaiva religion before going to know about Basavanna.

8 Veerashaiva Religion is one of the ancient religions of the world. That,s why it is called as Sanathan Dharma. Sanathana means primeval. According to John Marshall (research Scholar from England) the practice of ishtaling puja or shivayog was in there Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro civilization you can find this information in his book Mohenjo-Daro and Indus Civilization, page no. 59, 1931.
Principles of Veerashaiva are found in Veda, upanishat, Agama and Basavaadi Shivasharanas vachanas.

9 What is the meaning of Veerashaiva ?
lÉ uÉÏUzÉæuÉ xÉSØzÉÇ qÉiÉqÉÎxiÉ eÉaɧÉrÉã |
AsmÉÌ¢ürÉÉ qÉWûTüsÉÇ uÉÏUzÉæuÉÇ cÉ sɤÉhÉqÉç ||
In Veerashaivism, the Shivapuja is simple and practices are also quite simple. Effort is less and result is more. Mukti which is three births later for others, For veerashiava or lingaayats it is attainable in one birth only.

ÌuÉzÉoSålÉÉãcrÉiÉã ÌuÉ±É ÍzÉuÉeÉÏuÉæYrÉ oÉÉãÍkÉMüÉ |
iÉxrÉÉÇ UqÉhiÉå rÉã zÉæuÉÉÈ uÉÏUÍzÉuÉÉxiÉÑiÉãqÉiÉÉÈ ||
The derivation of the word Veerashaiva is given in this sloka: ‘vi’ stands for ‘vidya i.e. knowledge of shiva jivaikya i.e. unification of shiva and jiva. ‘ra’ stands for ramate i.e. takes delight in it. Thus veerashaiva is a person or shaiva who takes delight in the knowledge of shiva jivaikya.
Vedavyaas defined veerashaiva in his Ling purana as :
rÉÉã WûxiÉmÉÏPåû ÌlÉeÉÍqɹÍsÉÇaÉÇ ÌuÉlrÉxrÉ iÉssÉÏlÉqÉlÉÈ mÉëcÉÉUÈ |
oÉɽ̢ürÉÉxÉÇMÑüsÉÌlÉxmÉ×WûÉiqÉÉ xÉqmÉÔeÉrÉirÉÇaÉ xÉ uÉÏUzÉæuÉÈ ||
“He who places his ishtalinga on his palm with his mind fully concentrating on it and worships it with his mind totally withdrawn from all external actions, is the veerashaiva”.
There is also a definition which has contemporary importance. That is ‘ÌuÉUÉãkÉUÌWûiÉÇ zÉæuÉÇ uÉÏUzÉæuÉÇ ÌuɪÒoÉÑïkÉÉ’ It means that a man who does not oppose anybody in his life is a true veerashaiva.
As most of you all know a vachana of Basaveshwara –EªÀ£ÁgÀªÀ EªÀ£ÁgÀªÀ JAzɤ¸À¢gÀAiÀiÁå EªÀ £ÀªÀÄäªÀ EªÀ£ÀªÀÄäªÀ£ÉAzɤ¸ÀAiÀiÁå PÀÆqÀ®¸ÀAUÀªÀÄzÉêÀ ¤ªÀÄä ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ ªÀÄUÀ£ÉA¢¸ÀAiÀiÁå. Basavanna prays God to make him not to oppose anybody and teach him love all irrespective of caste and creed. ¸ÀPÀ® fêÁvÀäjUÉ ¯ÉøÀ£Éßà §AiÀĸÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä PÀÆqÀ®¸ÀAUÀ£À ±ÀgÀtgÉà PÀÄ®dgÀÄ. A man becomes great when he treats all equal and always striving hard for the wellbeing of all living beings not only human beings but also animal beings. That’s why the teachings or vachanas of Basavanna are essential for all time and for all people irrespective of caste community and creed.

10 Basaveshwara is one of the great saints who heralded social change in medieval India. He stressed devotion and intellect. He expounded his profound ideas in the common speech, charged with power and beauty.

11 Basaveshwara eradicated untouchablity which had spoiled the fair name of India’s culture. Basavanna by his advocacy of welcoming all devotees of God into Veerashaivism irrespective of caste, creed or birth. He advocated noble idea of wishing well of all living beings and emphasized the importance of work, which is of fundamental importance in the building up of a nation by proclaiming that ‘work is heaven itself.

12 Basaveshwara revolted against the man-made distinctions of caste and creed, conceived in Veerashaivism a casteless society where every one was treated equal. He envisaged the society in which every human being was expected to work. He enunciated this principle through his philosophy of ‘Kayaka’, according to which, a person who does not work, is not entitled to his bread. Basaveshwara said “a man engaged in honest labour, need not worry about worshipping God”.

13 He also admonished those who wanted to hoard, and said that man should not keep anything for Tomorrow. Thus he was the embodiment of the idea of Socialism. The greatness of Basaveshwara lies in the fact that he practised what he preached. By his teachings and by his example, he brought about a social revolution in society, which had a great impact on the life of millions of people for centuries.

14 Basaveshwara refused to make any distinction between people following different occupations. Work according to was sacred. It was he who for the first time, advocated the philosophy of dignity of labour. Himself an embodiment of all great human virtues, he strove for the uplift of the down-trodden. He was a man of far-sighted vision. He thought that no sacrifice was too great to eradicate the caste system, selfishness and hypocrisy.

15 Basaveshwara tried to transform the ordinary men and women into Godly human beings through his vachanas which are couched in simple and elegant language. He emphasized the value of adherence to truth, humility and good actions, faith in God, respect for women and purity both in internal and external. Eight hundred years ago, Basaveshwar anticipated the idea of ‘sarvodaya’ enunciated by Mahatma Gandhi.

Like all other leaders of religions, Basaveshwara was influenced by the contemporary religious, social and political trends and realised the supreme need of the unity of all people in the country, irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. That’s why Basaveshwara unified the people of all religion, caste and creed into an integrated whole with a common faith and common philosophy of Veerashaivism.

In the present days of tension between different castes and classes of society, Basaveshwara’s teachings have a special significance. Therefore I emphasize that we should try not merely to express our appreciations of his valuable teachings but to put them into practice in our daily life.

I am proud of you all. Because staying in foreign country you have not yet forgotten your culture and religion. I immensely surprised when vijaykumar halagali said that in Australia even children are also do shivapuja everybody. When I came here I realised it. Your children are model to children of our place.

God and Basavanna bless you and all. Let your children be good citizen of world.