Narendra Modi released 23 volumes of Basavanna's Vachana on social reformer's birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 April 2017 unveiled translated volumes of Vachana, penned by 12th century social reformer Basavanna and other saints in 23 Indian languages.

The volumes were released on the occasion of Basavanna’s birth anniversary.

PM Modi also released the digital version of the work at the first ever celebration of Basava Jayanthi at the national level in New Delhi.

The 23 Vachana volumes are edited by renowned literary scholar late M M Kalburgi and translated by more than 200 people. The Vachana was commissioned by the Bengaluru-based Basava Samithi at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore of which, the Karnataka Government contributed Rs 1 crore.

Who was Basavanna?

• Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet and a social reformer.

• He lived during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Karnataka.

• He spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas.

• He rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals such as the wearing of sacred thread. However, he introduced Ishtalinga necklace, with an image of the Shiva Linga, to every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one's devotion to Shiva.

• As the Chief Minister of his kingdom, he introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa (hall of spiritual experience). The Anubhava Mantapa welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life in open.

• His literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language.