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| Sharana Basaveshwara Temple | |
|---|---|
 Sharana Basaveshwara Temple between December 1887- February 1888. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kalaburagi |
| Deity | Sharana Basaveshwara |
| Festivals | Annual Jatra and Car festival |
| Location | |
| Location | Kalaburgi |
| State | Karnataka |
| Country | India |
Sharana Basaveshwara Temple is a shrine at Kalaburgi (Gulbarga), an ancient town in the north-eastern part of Karnataka.
History[edit]
The temple is dedicated to an eminent Lingayat religious teacher and philosopher, Shri Sharana Basaveshwara,a Lingayat saint of the 18th century known for his Dasoha (Giving is earning) and Kayaka — an advancement of the Karma doctrine "You have the right to perform the work assigned to you. You have no rights to 'demand' the fruits of your labor" philosophy. The temple houses the Samadhi of Sharana Basaveshwara at the center called the garbha gudi. It also has a lake adjacent to it which attracts many devotees and tourists.[1][2]
Annual jatra and Chariot festival[edit]
People from across the country and abroad cutting across communal lines will converge on the sprawling temple complex to witness the historic car festival. On the occasion, the people will also have a glimpse of the silver plate (Prasada Battalu) used by the saint. The Prasada Battalu, which is displayed once in a year during the car festival, would be shown to the devotees. Along with the Prasada Battalu, the devotees will get a chance to have a look at the Linga Karadige (the cover used for keeping the Linga) made in Sandalwood and used by Sharanabasaveshwara. People, particularly farmers from the region, continue the practice of donating a portion of their harvest to the temple for providing free food to pilgrims visiting the temple.[3]
Deadly dispute between the Hindus and Muslims over the Temple solved by Subedar Amir Ali Khan[edit]
Subedar Amir Ali Khan tenure as Subedar at Gulbarga the bitter dispute between the Hindus and Muslims over the “Bassappa Temple” lands came to a head. Subedar Amir Ali Khan made up his mind that this will not continue to assail Hindu – Muslim communal harmony and he decided to intervene in the matter.
According to authentic histrionic, the property in dispute was believed to be the compound wall around the Sharan Basappa Temple, Hindus claimed the compound wall while Muslims contended the property belonged to the nearby Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah premises. For more than two decades, the issue kept both the communities in opposition, with religious fervor being an impetus. Many government officials avoided addressing the communal fray. While the situation could have been turned violent and the confrontation between the two communities, it did not. Subedar Saab intervened.He realized the Hindu/Muslim communities of Gulbarga were attempting to start a war like battle over the issues.
Subedar saab took the initiative under his own stream and brought the local leaders of both communities to the negotiating table to find the truth. With his judicious foresight and administrative competence, he also called the leaders of both the communities; prominent among them was Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung the fire brand Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen leader, Mr.Mallikarjunappa, president of the Lingayat Conference and the Lingayat leader spearheading the campaign for the Bassappa Temple, the Mutawalli and Sajjada Nasheen of the Gulbarga Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah as well as some prominent local Hindus and Muslims and other neutral parties, to sit across the table along with the officials of revenue and the land records department. Subedar Amir Ali Khan looked for the long lasting political solution along with the power of the government to avoid the bloodshed between the Hindus and Muslims not only in Gulbarga and state of Hyderabad but also in many many parts of India. Subedar Amir Ali Khan invited Mr.Abdul Kareem Sahib Timmapuri and nawab Bahadur Yar Jung to settle the simmering issue between the Hindus and Muslims of Gulbarga.
As per Deccan Chronicle news paper[edit]
On 17th July 1942 friday foundation stone was laid to construct compound wall around Sharana Basaveshwara Temple in the presence of Subedar Amir Ali Khan
Sipaas-naama from Lingayat community[edit]
Translation of the Sipasnama
For the kind perusal of Nawab Moulvi Mohammad Amir Ali Khan Sahib, H.C.S., Subedar Gulbarga Shareef.
Your Honor!
Though your period of rule has proved a God Gift for the people of Gulbarga and the people of the Suba, irrespective of caste and creed, who have not only benefited by your good governance and prudence but also your memorable deed shall remain for ever in the hearts of Lingayat Community as a valuable asset and that deed is the construction of the compound wall of the shrine of Shri Sharan Basappa Maharaj, because it is not a secret to your Honour that this sublime shrine is highly venerated and revered by the Lingayat community and which is a holy place for all and a famous center of pilgrimage.
Your Honor! The construction of the compound wall of this temple was a bone of contention between the Hindus and Muslims of this town for long and every one of your predecessors tried his best to solve this problem but their efforts failed. But your sagacity and wisdom, unique statesmanship and unequalled intelligence and diplomacy solved this enigmatic problem very successfully, and instead of following of orders, your infallible strategy and distinctive nature coupled with your innate courteous behavior, prevailed upon both Hindus and Muslims to bury this dispute by mutual consent. Your achievement with your, shrewdness and many sided personality is not only a cause of pride and joy for H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government but it is also an example of communal amity and administrative acumen for various towns of India which has added a new and golden chapter to the history of religious tolerance of H.E.H. the Nizam’s Government.
Your Honor! For the gratifying treatment meted out by you to the Lingayat Community, we take the honour of thanking you and hope that the appraising eye of our Lord H.E.H. The Nizam will provide you a berth in the cabinet for the welfare of the country and nation.
Your Honor! As a mark of our joy for your kind visit and honoring us, we present a humble amount of Rs.3100/- to Your Honor. Though it is a very humble Nazrana but by your benignity and favors, we are sure that Your Honor will accept this small present as a token of our sincere feelings and sentiments. These traits of yours are inherent in you.
Respected Sir, the source of civilization and culture, and peace and tranquility, from which we are being benefited/blessed from is the sun of kingdom. i.e. H.E.H. the Nizam. from whom every one of this country’s communities and religions is getting benefited. We too have imbued the religious tolerance and favors of the Asfia dynasty in general and H.E.H the Nizam in particular, through our loyalty to the throne.
May His Exalted Highness’s shadow never grow less.
Photos Of Sharana Basaveshwara Devālaya[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sharana Basaveshwara". www.karnataka.com. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ "Sharana Basaveshwara Temple, Gulbarga" (PDF). karnatakavarthe.org. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ "All set for Sharanabasaveshwar Temple jatra-car festival today". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 29 October 2016.