Question

_________ , ________, and ______ were advocates of Virashaivism.

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know that Gods by their name, “Virashaivas” means “heroic” or “firm devotees or worshippers of Shiva”. Virashaivism is a little bit different from Hinduism. The Movement of Virashaiva started in the mid-twelfth and thirteenth centuries in northern Karnataka. The presence of a small stone emblem called “Linga” on their necks led to the alternate name of the religion- “Lingayat”.

Complete answer:
1. We need to remember that Virashaivism emerged by a movement led in the mid-twelfth- the thirteenth century in northern Karnataka.
2. The movement was led by Basava along with his companions – Allama Prabhu (Basava’s mentor), Akkamahadevi (the pre-eminent female devotee), Basava’s nephew Cennabasava, Ekantada Ramayya (an intense ascetic), and many others.
3. We must know that the Virashaivas differentiates themselves from Hindus by rejecting the system of caste. They also emphasize the importance of women’s rights. They reject the tradition of “shruti ''. They do not involve themselves in elaborated temple rituals.
4. They possess strict vegetarianism and bury their deceased ones (in the opposite of cremation).
5. Virashaivism follows a set of Kannadian poems, which they call “vachana”, which help them to create an atmosphere of energy and elevate their development as a “Virashaiva”.
6. The vachanas exhibit a certain lilting beauty but intentionally lack the elaborate poetic artifacts of Sanskrit maha kavya.
7. Virashaivas, regardless of economical or social status, consider themselves as a true devotee and a sharana of Lord Shiva.
8. Their tradition has built internal complexity and external accommodation.
Although, some attribute the origin of the movement of the beginning of Virashaiva to an earlier era when five miraculous saints established this tradition, very long before Basava’s revitalizing reforms.
So the answer to the question above is – “Basava, Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi.”

Note: Beside the beliefs of Virashaivas, some doctrinal and political disagreements have led to denominational divisions in this religion, such as- the pancharadhya, the virakta monastic lineages. The invasion of Brahminical Hinduism led the movement away from its vernacular roots to textual expressions, for example, the Shrikara Bhashya and the Lingadharana Chandrika both in language- Sanskrit.