Basavana Bagewadi, a taluk in Bijapur district, has been immortalised as the birth place of 12th century social revolutionary Basavanna. If things work out as planned, it will soon be immortalised for another feat. The Viraktamath in Ingaleshwar village of Basavana Bagewadi will soon be the proud host of a historical monument which depicts the vachanas written by Basavanna and the shivasharanas on stone plaques.

Pontiff Channabasava Swamiji of Viraktamath had long cherished the dream of bringing to life, Basavanna’s vachanas which have been inspiring and continue to inspire mankind, by engraving them on stone. In order to realise his dream, he has been working round the clock for the last 40 years.

Vachana Shila Mantapa, the brainchild of swamiji, is in its concluding phase of architectural endeavour. It stands attractive in the Viraktamath premises and boasts of displaying all the vachanas written by the shivasharanas of 12th century. The Vachana Shila Mantapa hosts not just a few of them, but 1,770 vachanas which have been written so far. All these vachanas are engraved on stone plaques.

The Mantapa has been constructed in a hexagonal shape and is externally supported by six walls which are 45 feet wide and 20 feet high. The centre of the Mantapa is supported by 12 pillars which are 36 feet in height.
Basavanna’s vachanas adorn the stone plaques on these supporting walls and the 12 pillars. A huge hall, constructed adjacent to the Mantapa, displays the vachanas written by shivasharanas - Akkamahadevi, Machaiah, Allama Prabhu, etc.

Background

In 1962, the pontiff undertook a padayatra to North India and visited Kedar and Hrishikesh. On the way, he chanced upon Buddhist principles engraved on the plaques at Lahaan and also the Bhagawad Geetha slokas engraved on the rocks in Hrishikesh. Inspired by these works, the swamiji dreamt of engraving all the vachanas on stone, for the benefit of future generations.

After he returned to Ingaleshwara from his yathra, he began working in the direction of turning his dream into reality. He began garnering information, as well as funds required for the construction of the Vachana Shila Mantapa.

Kannada scholars R C Hiremath, M M Kalburgi, Sunkapur, Pandit Nagabhooshan Shastry and several others helped the swamiji in compiling all the vachanas written so far.  In 1968, the task of collecting the funds began. In 1972, in the presence of pontiff Mahanta Swamiji of Murugha Math, Dharwad, and the pontiff of Moorusavira Math, Hubli, the bhoomi pooja for the construction of the Mantapa was observed.

The swamiji had a tough time pooling resources. He undertook every action, every step that was necessary to collect funds - pravachanas, padayatras, and so on. However, none of these were sufficient to meet the expenses of the Mantapa. The swamiji also took loans to complete the Herculean task. Though several people appreciated the efforts of the swamiji, very few of them actually came forward to extend financial support. At present, the completion of the Vachana Shila Mantapa is in its final phase.

Initially, the estimated cost of constructing the Mantapa had been around Rs 1.5 lakh. However, it has now crossed Rs 1.5 crore. Work that will cost not less than Rs 25 lakh is still pending, according to the swamiji.
“It is extremely difficult to mobilise the remaining amount. This is the fag end of the project and I am still hoping for something to turn up,” the swamiji expresses optimistically.

He hopes to complete the Vachana Shila Mantapa within a period of six months. If philanthropists, institutions and organisations come forward to his aid, probably, the dream of the swamiji will come true.
This, indeed, is a great service to mankind.

Translated by Jyotsna P Dharwad