Basava Jayanti is celebrated every year on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, this year. Basava Jayanti is mostly celebrated in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The festival is celebrated by the Lingayat majority on the birth anniversary of Lord Basavanna.
It is believed that Lord Basavanna was the founder of Lingayatism. Basava Jayanti is also known as Basaveshwara Jayanti. It is observed on the third of the bright half or Shukla paksha during the month of Vaisakha.
Who was Mahatma Basaveshwar?
Mahatma Basaveshwar was a prominent philosopher, statesman, social reformer, and saint in the Shaivism Bhakti Movement during the 12th century. He was dedicated to spreading awareness and enlightenment among people through his knowledge of poetry and philosophy. His key teachings focused on social reforms, gender equality, and a rejection of superstition and unnecessary rituals.
Born in 1105 CE to a family of Shiva devotees in the northern parts of Karnataka, he strongly believed in equality and humanity. Mahatma Basaveshwar also introduced the practice of wearing the Ishtalinga necklace, which symbolises Lord Shiva and is worn by all Lingayats.
How is Basava Jayanti celebrated?
The festival is marked by numerous cultural events, including a procession of religious gatherings and the reading of Basavanna's vachanas (poems). Basava Jayanti is a state holiday in Karnataka. The date of Basava Jayanti varies from year to year according to the Hindu calendar, but it typically falls on the third day of the Vaisakha month.
