Boyhood     

B was born in a village called Bagewadi in the Bijapur district of Mysore state. There was a big Siva temple there and was an agrahara of some reputation. The headman was Mandageya Madiraja. Since he had no child for a long time, the astrologers suggested that they should perform Vrishabha Vrata. His wife took it up and completed it with great devotion. She was blessed with a son Basava. Learned in the Vedas his father wanted him to follow his footsteps.

He had some terrible experiences – the sight of a lamb taken to the sacrificial altar. During Nagapanchami festival the snake was worshipped but when a snake appeared it was killed. Agni – fire was worshipped but if a house caught fire, it was put out with sand and water. B could not understand these contradictions. He could feel the difference between the haves and have nots. B was friendly, helpful, charming and soft-spoken. He was the leader amongst his friends yet never dominated over them. He could not tolerate cunning. He would be harsh towards those who ill-treated others. He was different.

He loved to listen to stories of men of God. He would never miss a prasanga, a religious discourse where tales of devotees were narrated. One was that of Kannappa, a saint of Tamil Nadu. Another story that impressed him was that of Madara Channayya. The story of Siriyala who was prepared to sacrifice his own son to please God and the story of Dasimayya who gave his new blanket to God were other stories that impressed B’s mind. These stories pointed out to the fact that birth-caste was never a criterion by which God judged man. He realized that God always values inner purity and not outward appearance, caste was an impediment to realize God since a person born in a higher caste boosted the ego of a person.

B began to fell that he was living in an artificial world. With time it became difficult for him to live in the world of appearances. At the age of 8, the thread or upanayana ceremony was to be performed. B refused to wear the sacred thread on the premise that Brahminism and bhakti were things opposed to each other. A Brahmin could never become God’s son and a God’s favorite should give up Brahmanism to earn for himself God’s grace. B was adamant. However, at last, B agreed to under go the ceremony.