9 788126 053278 9 788126 053278 by H. Thipperudraswamy SAHITYA AKADEMI Basaveshwara: A monograph in English by H. Thipperudraswamy on Basaveshwara, 12th Century Hindu philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet, and a social reformer, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi : 2017, 50. Sahitya Akademi Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110 001 Sales Section : ‘Swati’ Mandir Marg, New Delhi 110 001 Website : www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in Email :
[email protected] Regional Offices 172 Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya Marg Dadar, Mumbai 400 014 4 D. L. Khan Road, Kolkata 700 025 Central College Parisar, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Veethi, Bengaluru 560 001 Chennai Office Main Guna Building Complex (Second Floor) 443 (304), Anna Salai Teynampet, Chennai 600 018 © Sahitya Akademi First published 1975 Reprint : 1991, 2017 ISBN 978-81-260-5327-8 Rs. 50/- Typeset and printed at Vikas Computer and Printers, Delhi-32 Contents 1. Life Story 1 2. Bhakti-Bhandari 12 3. A Revolutionary Saint 24 4. The Message of Kayaka 38 5. A Great Poet 48 Bibliography 61 1 Life Story Human problems are more complicated today than ever before. No doubt man has acquired unprecedented knowledge and power; but these have caused unparalleled changes and, as a result, life has become confusion worse confounded. Everything about us is in a state of flux. In this predicament, the need for spiritual ministration is more keenly felt today than ever before in our history. The great saints and poets of the world can teach us how to acquire the spiritual strength we need to pull ourselves out of the rut of daily humdrum circumstances.