BASAVANNA AND MARTINN LUTHER AS SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORMER (COMPARISION)
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Basavanna
and Martin Luther are a greatest socio-religious reformer. Though they are
belongs to different place, space, time, culture, language, and religion. In
the context of Scio-religious reformation, they stand for, very similar. Their
ideas, views, concerns, and sympathy towards society is very similar. This
dissertation focuses on revolutionary step taken by these two great philosophic
personalities. It’s also focuses the
contemporary society of Basavanna and Martin Luther. How a revolutionary movements help to
eradicate the existence immoral activities in society and similarity between
reformation.
Basavanna
lived in the 12th Century and Martin Luther in the 16 th Centuries.
During these two different times, the society was in totally blind faith. I
mean people life was totally collapsed by the various problems.
In the
second chapter initiates, the religious problems are the major problems for
sufferings. Contemporary life of the people under the strict religious practice
made to suffer lot.
Basavanna
and Martin Luther took radical step to change the society. It was such time
that nobody come forward to protest against it, everybody excepting everything
because of domination. For this reason so called higher class people oppressed
commoner’s life. But the revolutionary ideals protest against various problems
of society. In the leadership of Basavanna in Karnataka (Kalyana), and Martin
Luther in German (Wittenberg) led movement against the upper class people.
In the
third chapter discuss about how the revolutionary brings changes in the
contemporary society. The influence of revolutionary ideas, it’s destroys
against which is injustice. Firstly the revolutionary started with religious
changes but it later reached the various genera’s of society. It’s brings
changes in the social, economical, political, intellectual fields. These
changes bring newness in society.
In
fourth chapter, Followed by twelfth century, under the leadership of Basavanna
the Vachanna movement was started. Basavanna and Shivasharanas
(followers of Lingayat religion)
protest against the immoral, incorrect activities. They composed Vachnnas on
the base of social, incorrect and misbelieve. Their Vachana concentrates on
ideals of equality, fraternity, freedom, the spirit of duty, and devotion of
the highest order. They condemn the rotten evils like Varana-Asrama Dharma
which has divided Hindu society into artificial fragments.
Shivasharanas
propagated the father hood of one and only god the brother hood of man. They
preached and practiced the principles of perfect democracy and enjoined that everybody. Weather priest or a peasant should adopt an
honest and pure means of livelihood and his duty himself and the society.
In the
new theological concept, Shivasharnas revived the Veerashaiva religion; freed
it from all the traditional defects and made it applicable to their times. They
condemn the inhuman practice of untouchability, cast distinction, animal
sacrifice, and blind beliefs in evil spirits.
Shivasharanas
condemn, established supremacy of Brahmans, Kshatriyas , Syashyas and Sudras. They
addressed the common man in his own tongue and in simple natural style which is
appealing.
In the
leadership of Basavanna, Shivasharnasa make aware of education and religious
scriptures. They avoid and ignore the all existence restriction in society.
They show the path of from darkness to light, from misery to happiness, from
ugliness to beauty, and above all from death to deathlessness.
Followed
by the sixteenth century, under the leadership of Martin Luther the protestant
movement emerged. It is movement of reform which is not correct. The movement
challenges the church authoritative in German. By the 1522, Luther’s writings
had started a wave of reform and instigated the disorder. He delivered several
sermons on the value of patience and freedom. Condemning the previous violence
and calling on the town’s people to put their faith in god to deliver reform.
(…Paul Bishop, Martin Luther reformation.
Referred from P.N.2-8)
The
reformation spread throughout the Europe. Ninety-Five-Theses as the deeds of a
rebel against authority and defender of individual freedom. The
Ninety-Five-Theses attacked not only indulgence to be granted in exchange of
money that was earmarked for new.
As the
first genuinely good work, faith was directed towards god, instead of faith god
was the source of all the genuine good works that were directed outward towards
the neighbor in obedience to the remaining commandments. These good works were
not religious activities but the dedication of one’s public and honesty,
sympathy, encouragements, support, aid, and justice.
(..Scott.H.Hendrix,Martin
Luther(a very short introduction.)
Hence,
in this dissertation, attempts to show a how the religion and cultural is
developed by the domination. As we know the society is constructed one, the
place may different, the construction idea is same. Here I mean the place of
the Basavanna and Martin Luther different, but the constructed society is very
similar. Weather it social problem, religious problem, political problem,
economical problem, Stands for similar. Constructed one is always portraying in
negative way, because it includes false.
Here
the” construction society” also fills with false. So it’s satisfying the some particular issues
of the society and some ignores.
In
construction society always work the own self, that self has become upper class
people and other’s are become the lower class people. Because the self dominant
and oppressed other.
I made
an attempt to look similar views and ideas of Basavanna and Martin Luther,
between these two we find lots of different. I am not focusing contrast between
them.
Hence, In India
many of the scholar compare Basvanna with world other reformer. But nobody has
compare with Martin Luther. Though Basavanna’ calls Martin Luther of India.
(called by Arthur Miles) But, works we don’t find, because this is an attempt
compare these two great personalities.
CHAPTER-II
RELIGIOUS REFORMATION
OF (BASAVANNA AND MARTIN LUTER)
Basavanna and
Martin Luther as a religious reformer worked to bring complete freedom to
contemporary society. In the field of religion, their effort and attempts,
brings lots of changes. The contemporary existence religion is a very strict.
The religious activities are surroundings with various boundaries of life. A
rigid theological dogma of religion completely ruins common people life in
society.
That was a time,
there people simply followed the rigid doctrines of religion and certain set of
notion to follow for religion. The notion was very different from one and each
class, a different category of people to follow a different rules and
regulation, within one religion. The
religious activities are not made for equally to all. There was hierarchical in
social order.
To define religion,
(1. the belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a
personal god or gods. 2. A particular system of faith and worship.)
(……Oxford English
dictionary online)
When the religious
activities developing in wrong way, since from past, they observe as a common
man and understand the problems of present religion. They come forward oppose
and protest against the immoral and incorrect. It was the time nobody oppose
the person like in high position in religion. Basavanna and Latin Luther as
philosopher, they condemn, blame and opposed and asked question, who are the
responsible for immoral activity in religion?
Firstly to discuss,
12th century religious activities and reformation led by Basavanna.
Twelfth century, the society was bounded with caste, categories, and
discrimination. On the basis of profession they were divided the group of
people. According to their profession, a group of people should work in
society.
Following to religious practice existed in
those days, are untouchable, caste system, false belief, superstitious belief,
blind faiths, and animal sacrifice. These practices are happening not by willingly
but forcibly. In the society of Indian social order Brahmins are high in
position. They are as professionally
priest and having supreme power in religious activities. Through their power
they force to follow certain rules and regulation in religion.
Brahmins are having
a high position in society as well as consider them as a supreme in court of
the kingdom. For their power in religion and kingdom made such circumstance
everybody should obey their order. Firstly they construct religion as their
convenient, when we refer the twelfth century; during these days we can feel
such circumstances for instance presence of a Brahmin in the society as
presence of god or as equal to god.
They were become
intermediates between god and people.
What they said that is become ultimate in religious practice. They were
become prophet and protector of religion.
People consider
Brahmin as equal to a god. For that people perform everything religious
activities said by them. In the name of the religious performance (worship to
god) people went to them. But Brahmin in
the name of worship, he asked more money, wealth, property, animals, grains,
various materials. If the people were not willing to give, they use to say bad
will be going to be happen you and your family. Because of this threatens
people come under in trouble.
People are
suffering to practice religion in one side on the other side Brahmins leading
happy life. They are very clever and cunning in nature and they simply played
game between common and elite class. I
mean they oppressed the commoners and satisfy the elite class.
To say few words on
Basavanna; he was a great philosopher, saint, poet, reformer, humanist, and an
outstanding leader. It is believed
that Lord Basavanna was born in 1134 AD into a Shaiva Brahmin family belogs to Shukla Yajurveda, residing in a
small town, Basavana
Bagewadi in Bijapur district of northern Karnataka state, India. Basavanna is said to have
grown up in an orthodox Hindu religious household and rejected many practices in
Vedic society based on some of the religious scriptures called Agamas, Shastras, and Puranas
in Sanskrit
language. He
revolt against the rituals and practice of Brahmins in Hindu religion. He went
kudala sangana. There he studies Vedas, the agamas, the shastras.
Basavanna study
rituals and observes the religious scriptures. He comes to known that now the
rituals kept the innocent masses ignorant and made them vulnerable to
exploitation the so called high class people. He observe the religious practice
in society and he successfully find that the practices was not from the religious
scripture. That’s what he says one of his Vachanna “Scriptures show one way and
Brahmins follow another.
(…Basavana vachanna)
Basavanna openly
opposed the Brahmins and condemn the practicing religious activity. He opposed
caste system, false belief, animal sacrificing in the name of god as well as
system of untouchable, and discrimination. Practice of caste
system, which discriminated against people based on
their birth and other rituals in Hinduism. He calls equality
in society and spread
social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanna.
Basavanna
led Religious reformation against the immoral and incorrect activity of
religion. He builds Anubhavamantapa. It was an assembly of mystics.
In
this assembly hall the Shivasaranas discussed the spiritual pursuits on the
basis of their individual experience. Basavanna brought new faith in religion
through his reformation. The most outstanding aspect is all should get equal
opportunities in the religious practice. In those times religion becomes only
some people property. Basavanna one of his Vachannas gives the basic truth of
all religion of world.
What
sort of religion
Without
compassion?
Compassion
needs must be
Towords
all living things
Compassion
is the root
Of
all religious faihs
Lord
kudalasangama does not care
What
is not like this.
Basavannas
concerns about religion it should be equal to all. It should compassion towards
all living in the society. The religion it should not make any difference
between human beings.
Basavanna
practiced what he preached. When there
is contrast regarding the other world existed and god will live in it. Their
belief is that one who makes sin they will punish in that world. For it
Basavanna says one of his Vachanna.
Dear
friend! They do not separately exist
The
divine world and the mortal world
Truth
is divine, world and falsehood mortal world.
Good
conduct is heaven and bad conduct is hell
God
of Kudalasangama;
Basavanna
give importance to mortal world for follow ideal life in society.
Followed
to 16th century, Martin Luther
was born in (10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546)
small town of Eisleben, near modern Berlin in Germany. His parents were Hans
and Margarethe Luther, middle-class peasant labourer. He flourished as
German monk, Catholic priest, professor of theology and seminal figure of the 16th-century movement in Christianity known later as the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, one of the most notable theologians in Christian history, is responsible for
initiating the Protestant
Reformation.
The context of
the sixteenth century Europe, it is the time of after renaissance
movement. Where a rigid religious
theological dogmas were practicing, The Roman Catholic Church having supreme
power over religion. In the church authoritative Pope was highest in the
hierarchical order. He was head in the church, what he may say everyone should
obey it. Pope for his supreme power in religion, he started order the people to
practice some of rigid beliefs. For his luxurious life he offers more money,
gold, silver, property, and force people to pay more religious tax.
All the
religious activity done by pope is not followed by Bible but against it.
During this
time people suffered a lot, though they did not oppose. Because of threatens of
excommunication from the society. Pope totally deceives the people in the name
of religion. For instance if somebody come to church for their personal
problems. Pope considers it was a great penance. To salvation for this sin you
should offer some religious remission.
In that rigid
time, Martin Luther opposed the pope and church authoritative class.
When pope
deceiving in selling indulgences Luther openly opposed and challenges to answer
his Ninety- five- Theses. Then he started to reformation movement in Germany.
He gave call on reform church. He condemns the church immoral activity. The
incorrect church policies are Justification, (a act that lead the freedom to freedom
from blame or guilt derived from sin. Remission, (refers to the pardon of or
forgiveness of sins.) penance (acts of performs to show regret of sin.)
Purgatory,(an existence between this life and eternal life in heaven, they are
cleansed of their residual sin from eternal life.) Indulgences, (a latter or
religion to reduce the sin.) and Liturgy, (the form or order of religious
service and worship.) these followed to be strict principles of church.
Follows to
Luther Ninety-Five-Theses, it brings lots of challenge to catholic Pope. Pope
failed to answer the Luther question. The protestant movement spread throughout
the Europe. His theses tell the reality of church and existence policy. People
become the aware of certain facts.
When our lord
and master Jesus Christ said,” Repent” (mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of
believers to be one of repentance. (no.1.Thesis)
This word
cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is,
confession, and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy. (no.2.Theses)
The pope
neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his
own authority or that of the canons.(no.5.theses)
Martin Luther Theses criticise the
immoral activity by pope in church. For their selfish life they misguide the
people to follow religious practice.
Hence, Basavanna and Martin Luther, if we recognised them
as religious reformer, their contribution towards society is very appreciable
and acknowledgeable. Because it was the time of domination power, if anybody
opposed to it they will punish. Practicing of religious activities people
became blind and faithful. In this time these to personalities bring changes in
religion i.e. new faith and new beliefs in life.
CHAPTER III
RADICAL CHANGES
IN SOCIETY
Thus speak about the radical
changes, during the contemporary time of Basavanna and Martin Luther,
respectively, 12th century and 16th century. During this
time the society was surrounded with blind walls. Rules and regulation are become to impose
power, they are not opposing rather they are acknowledging. Weather the rules
of religion, political, social, and economical and management etc. Rules are not allowing doing certain things
according to people wish. In religious the religious activities the priest
imposing their power on people they made certain rules to follow everybody in
the society. Higher authoritative of Political, transform their power on people.
Social hierarchical order discriminates the people in the name of high-low and
rich-poor. Existence of slavery and feudalism destroy economical condition of
people. These genres in the society made people to suffer every day.
During this particular time
people were losses of their identity, freedom, faith, desire, love,
brotherhood, charity, purity and freshness. They are longing for newness and
new faiths. Basavanna and Martin Luther also lived in this restriction society,
in order to change this, they started revolutionary movements. There path was
not strict rather lenient to people. People under the new direction, they find
newness and new faith. Through the revolutionary movement brings radical
changes in society. Those genres are as follows,(Religious changes I am not
discussing in this chapter , previous chapter I discussed about it)
·
Social
changes
·
Political
changes
·
Economical
changes
·
Intellectual
changes
SOCIAL CHANGES:
So many reasons we can find for
social change, especially the existence of hierarchical order, complete
discrimination between people, In the name rich-poor, black-white, lower -
higher class, and men-women. Flowed
these discrimination makes to revolt against the social order.
During the 12th century,
society was complete fill with evils. The evils are inequality, untouchable,
caste system, women inequality, injustice, immoral, and etc.
The hierarchical
order, Brahmin in the top order, next to him Kshatriya, in second position,
in third position Vaishya ,
at last Shudra. According to this order, Brahmin consists of those engaged in
scriptural education and teaching. Kshatriya, Take on all forms of public
service, including administration, maintenance of law and order, and defence.
Vaishya, Engage in commercial activity as businessmen. In the last shudra, work
under these class as a labour. The most obvious problem with this system was
that under its rigidity, the lower castes were prevented freedom by higher.
They’re very restriction in
society in everyday’s life, Brahmins follow various norms some of as follow,
they don’t use to speak directly to the shudras, because if they saw the face
of the shudra they will get polluted, shudras in order enter the Brahmins
areas, they should wear a pot to split, bind a broom to their back side to
sweep a there trace. At
the other extreme, if an untouchable dared to draw water from a public well, he
or she polluted the water and they get punish.
All bad evils in the society make
Basavanna to led movement against it. He opposed Hindu Dharma. He made equality
to all in the Lingayat religion. In this religion there is no caste, no
discrimination, all are call to de Sharanas. The Sharanas in Lingyat religion
they live equally as a brother and sister. This equality in the Lingyat
religion brings lots of changes in society. For condemnation of caste system
Basavanna one of his vachanas, he is addressing his birth in the high caste, he
criticising the birth of him, in Brahmin community, and telling be like as
common man. The vachanna as follows,
Ayya,
do not burden me with distress
that I was born high caste.
Look,
Kakkayya does not offer me grains,
Dassayya does not pour butter milk for
me,
Chennayya does not pardon me.
Eminently glorious Koodalasanamadeva,
Save me, save me.
(Basava Vhachana, 68.)
During 16th century, in
Germany there was monarchy. The social hierarchy is existence on the basis of
class, the social order divided in three classes as; Upper class, Working class
or Middle class and Lower class. Upper class domination towards lower is unkind
and inhuman way, under the feudalism, elite class people treating lower class
people as animal. In the society inequality, immorality and injustice, is
common to Lower class people. In the common people are made to be victim for simple
reason. These are made to suffer lower class people.
Martin
Luther, though he does not started social movement, but his movement against
church brings lots of social changes. Church is the centre for feudalism,
through the church lots injustice were happen towards society. When his
movements started
It’s
make awareness to become change from strict issues.
“The crucial point to remember in discussing
Luther’s struggle with social ethical issues is that he understood himself to
be a theologian and pastor not a sociologist or economics or politician. Indeed,
Luther’s ethics may be understood as pastoral care. For Luther, theology and
ethics served the proclamation of the good news that salvation, received not
achieved.”
(Lindberg,Carter, ‘Luher’s struggle with
social-ethical issue. Oxford C C)
POLITICAL
CHANGES:
In the society, political role is most
important to give equality, fraternity and freedom. The administration should
be strong to develop Nation and self image of personal life.
During time of 12th century
in India and in 16th century in Germany, political is become power
of impose from higher to lower. It’s become like power transformer politics.
Under this, common people suffer lot, this injustice in politics protested by
Basavanna and Martin Luther.
Initiate with 12th century,
the political issues are as; there was a monarchy, and king is in the supreme
head of the kingdom. In the kingdom the power authoritative was always in fever
of rich and high caste. Political
decisions taken by weather the king, the Brahmins or authoritative voice it’s
always injustice towards commoners. Always commoners became victim in front of
law.
Basavanna was prime minister in the
kingdom, he condemn all the rotten evils of politics and brigs stability in
it. His political equality we can see in
the Anubhavamantappa, There he gives equal opportunity to all. Basavanna
theology makes to give justice to the all people of commoners; the
revolutionary step brings lots of changes in society.
In 16th century during the
time of Martin Luther, existence of illegal is mass way the church
authoritative class is become higher in politics. Pope not only become similar
to the Religion he also controls the king. In the court of the king he is in
higher position. Justification board
controls by him. He always made injustice to lower class people. Against this
early reformer, Way Cliff, John Huss and John of Arch questioned the
justification of board. But church board put them to fire in public place. This
threatens of church makes people be silent.
To change this threatens of church Luther started revolutionary
movement.
Luther in his reformation movement, he
opposes pope’s injustice towards the commoners, his reformation movement,
Ninety –Five-Theses, delivered his lecture against the church authoritative,
makes pope to charge against him. He
excommunicated by Emperor Charles-V. Eventually established of protestant
church, under new theology of Martin Luther brings lot political changes in
society.
Martin Luther says “the permanent
destruction of all Germany, by over throwing both the word of god and civil
authority”
(..Hendrix . H acott, Martin Luther A
Very Short Introduction.)
ECONOMICAL
CHANGE:
Economy is the sign of people superior
or inferior life. It’s depending upon how they are leading life in society. During
time of Basavanna and Martin Luther contemporary economical condition was not
good, because so many restrictions, in religion, political, and social
completely ruins economical condition of people.
Economical condition of the 12th century,
society was not good, high caste people leading happy life but lower castes are
sufferers. Their life is marginalised under the so many rigid practices in
society. They spent more money on performing religious rituals.
Basavanna condemns all rituals practiced
by the Brahmins. He gives call on “Work
is Worship”. Every people in the society should work to feed themselves, nobody
should not be depend on others. He banishes the luxurious life and storage system.
All his preaches and Vachannas brings lots of economical changes in society.
In 16th century, during this
time, the management power was transformed by pope. He fails to manage it and
it will become corrupt. For his luxurious life they offer more money from
people. They issued more tax from them; in the name of religion they sell the
indulgence and force to pay more money on it. For these reason economical
growth was subjugated.
Martin Luther Reformation Movement,
destroy the church authoritative and brings new theology. People stop the obeying
church restriction, when they become free from church the economical conditions
also change.
INTELLECTUAL
CHANGES:
Contemporary society of Basavanna and
Martin Luther was ignorant and lack of education, makes people to complete
blind. They excepting whatever said by the higher class and they don’t ask any
question to them. Because the upper class people train them in such way.
Writings and preaches of Basavanna and
Martin Luther made awareness of education and avoid which is against the truth.
Basavanna during his time, he
supported education, though the education restricted to Brahmins he opposed it
and give opportunity to learn all in his ‘ideal society’. And he preaches that
do not except anything without reason, preaches and Vachannas helps to change
the people views.
So many Shivasharanas composed Vachannas
and expressed their views according to their ideas and skill, in the
Annubhavamanatappa. Shivasharnas and
many people from various places come forward and spread the importance of
education and bring awareness in people across the country.
Martin Luther preaches and writings focuses
on the illegality of church, people inspired by his preaches and started to
think about reality, there perception regarding church was change, they started
to think about the reality. This brings changes in sociality.
Hence, in the ‘radical changes,’ so many
changes we find. The changes were happened, which is not on the basis of
destroying the proper path instead improper. Revolutionary ideas control the
domination and bring changes in society. The domination power led a several
prevention to oppose the Basavanna and Martin Luther but they successfully
chase it.
CHAPTER IV
THE IDEAS OF BASAVANNA AND MARTIN
LUTHER
Basavanna
and Martin Luther explore many new ideas, to bring newness in society. In order
to live everybody happy in the society their ideal life is a good example. When
the society is in completely falsehood, they make awareness of individuality;
think about the reality, not to obeying anything without reason, and
rationality. They gave importance to the humanity, equality, freedom, and pity
towards all in the society. They believe
on, everybody should live in true, faith, hope, and love. In order to change
the society they had plans several ideas. Four of them as follow.
·
The movements
·
Writing and preaches
·
Notion of language
·
The new theology
THE MOVEMENTS:
In the theory of
philosophy to change the rules and regulation we need movements. Followed by
Basavanna and Martin Luther, in order break the restriction bounded by the
lower class people. They have taken movement’s i.e. Vachanna movement in
twelfth century and protestant reformation movement in sixteenth century.
VACHANNA MOVEMENT:
Vachanna movement started
in the mid 12th century, under the leadership of Basavaanna.
Vachanna movement take place at Kalyana(Karnataka). It is capital of Kalachuri
dynasty. Bijjala was the ruler of the kingdom. Basavanna was the prime minister
of Kalacuri kingdom. Vachanna movement consider to be a revolutionary
activities taken by Shivasharanas to remove caste system, give freedom in
religion and social, against discrimination of rich- poor, men-women, etc.
Totally Vachanna movement stands for equality, fraternity and freedom.
Vachanna movement
is a literary movement. Through weapons of Vachanna they call for changes in
society. Vachanna composed by Shivashrnas discussed in Anubhavamantappa.
Annubhavamantappa is the place to
discuss the social issues. Here every
one has equal opportunity to speak and share their ideas. Through this movement
lots of changes happen in society.
PROTESTANT MOVEMENT:
The protestant
movement started in sixteenth century, under the leadership of Martin Luther.
The protestant movement takes place in Wittenberg Germany. At the time Luther
was professor in the Wittenberg University. He led movement against the
Wittenberg Catholic Church. Reformation movement refers to reform, movement to
change that which is seen as incorrect. Sixteenth century movement is towards
religious and social changes.
Luther in Germany
begins a journey of reformation. The journey begins against the corruption in
church, against the pope domination, and against church illegal activities.
Movement takes place in very high. He questioned Pope Leo x to answer his
Ninety-Five-Theses. He burns indulgence in the public places. He captured the
Johann sent by Pope Leo x and excommunicated him from Germany. People supported
him and actively participate in the movement.
When the Catholic
Church excommunicated him, he does not stop his movement opposed openly. He
begins to distribute the Ninety-Five-These privately. Within two weeks time the
theses had spread like wild fire throughout Germany. Eventually Luther
successfully found (establish) protestant church.
WRITING AND PREACHES:
Writings and Preaches are the most important, for revolutionary step.
Basavanna and Martin Luther through their writings they started a revolutionary
movements. Both are as intellectual as they are, thought about the condition of
society, in order to remove the practicing religious and social activities,
they give importance to writings and preach. In their writings and preaches
they focus the societies bad activities and give call for good activities.
Works of 12th century, we read as Vachana Sahitya. The
Vachana Sahitya was written by Basavanna and contemporary Shivasharanas. The
term Vachana is derived from the original Sanskrit root word ‘Vach’. Vachanna
means speech, to speak, sayings, and so on. Here Vachana means a poem or part
of poem. Basavanna and Sharanas have used the word to make promise, give word,
or take oath. Thus whatever the Shivasharanas uttered became Vachana.
Thus the quintessence of the innermost feelings and experience of the
Sharanas came to be called Vachana Sahitya. Presently about 1.427 Vachanas of
Basavanna are available. Basavanna Vachanas one way it condemns the practice of
Hindu religion and Brahmins treatment of lower class (Caste system). In the
other way it suggests to lead ideal life in society. Basavanna having concepts
of society were all treated equally.
Preaches of Shivasharanas take place in the Annubhavamantappa, it is assembly
of discuss several things regarding the social and religious issues. There is
freedom to speak about their ideas regarding the contemporary social and
religious activities. People influenced by the Vachanna and Shivasharanas
Preaches. Every caste people take part in Annubhavamantappa. This participation
of everyone who has considered being the lowest in society they breathe a new
life for themselves as such. This change
in the society brings lots of equality and freedom.
Martin Luther writings completely focus against the Roman Catholic
Church. His works, the critical edition
in German and Latin, the Weimar Ausgabe, includes sixty volumes of his published writing,
twelve of documents relating to the translation of the Bible, and six volumes
of Table Talk.
(Timothy F. Lull Luther’s
writings, 39.)
Luther begins
protestant movements through his Ninety-Five-Theses. In the history of
Religious and social movements in Germany, 95 Theses emerges the revolutionary,
against the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther challenges the pope nailing a copy of the Ninety-Five-Theses on board of
Wittenberg castle church. This is first radical step taken by Luther.
Luther’s operates in way that he
challenges boundaries. One his most famous writings, The Freedom of a
Christian (1520) is partly a sermon, partly treatise, and partly works of
polemic against “bondage” of the church.
Luther’s letters, autobiographical writings, table talk focuses on his
contemporary society and circumstances.
Luther’s preaches, professionally he was university professor. Luther’s
preaching ministry was remarkable. He has such stability to create environment
in his preaches to attract the people. When Luther address to people who, like
himself, had been taught of god and Jesus. In his preaches he delighted in
speaking, even people to feel presence of god in their home.
Luther’s preaches concentrates on, protesting against the churchly
abuses and brings new awareness in society.
NOTION OF LANGUAGE:
Language is most important one to survive life. Here during the contemporary
of society of Basavanna and Martin Luther. People were deceiving by the one who
perform the religious practice. The religious performers were Brahmins in India
and Pope’s in Germany. They used to perform religious rituals and worships in
different language. Those languages are Sanskrit in India and Latin in Germany.
They use to call these languages as god speaks to use, no one should not be
learning this language apart from these people. When the religious supreme made
restriction on language, Basavanna and Martin Luther give importance to people
spoken language. Basavanna composed Vachana in Kannada language. Martin Luther
translates Bible, Latin to German language.
Basavanna written in the language of common people, it like freed from
the people of strange language. People started read Vachanna’s in their spoken
language. By reading the Vachanna their views get changed. Regarding the social
issues the elite class created some notion. Vachanna written by Basavanna
question the all misbelieves of social norms.
During these days education is only for elite class people, Basavanna
oppose the education system. He supports the education to all people. He knows that
the lack of ignorance only solve through education.
Brahmins are misguiding the people by telling the false practice. Vedas and scripture say something but
Brahmins follows other thing. Because Basavanna’s many Vachannas follows to
Veda and religious books of Hindu
Dharma. Basavanna is perfect in Sanskrit language. But he does not choose to
write in Sanskrit because he is writing for commoners.
Martin Luther during 16th century, at the rigid time in
Germany, creates some sort of newness in society by translating Bible. He
translated Bible from Latin to German. Latin is use to spoke only elite class
people in German. Commoners are for away from this language. Pope and church
authoritative voice misguiding the people. The pope not following Bible, for
his satisfaction, he is cunning the people in the name Bible. He misguides
people and collects more money from them, in the name of the sin and salvation.
Luther says; “I will stay hidden in this place until Easter. Meanwhile,
I plan to write the postil and to translate the new testament into vernacular,
which our friends desire. I hear that you are doing the same thing. Keep on as
you have begun. On that every city had languages, hands, eyes, ears, and
hearts!
(…Hendrix,Scott,Martin Luther ( a very short introduction, p/n 37)
NEW THEOLOGY:
In the context of theology, interpreting of Basavanna and Martin Luther
is much ahead. They look for the truthful and organized religion and social
practice. In the new theology they are longing for change. The change is from
rigid to convince. In their time, their theology changes the course history.
They much focus to break rules and regulation by practicing the anti
religious and social activities. They are started to practice anti
soc-religious activities through their moral theology. People attracted the new
theology they come join with them.
During 12th century, Lingavanta is
an independent religion, as well as tradition, established by Basavanna in the 12th Century. It makes several departures
from mainstream Hinduism. It worship cantered on Lord Shiva in the form of linga or Ishtalinga.
It also rejects the
authority of the Vedas, the caste
system, and some Hindu beliefs such as reincarnation and karma.
Before
Lingayathism there were so many cruel rituals without were harassing the
society. Untochability had spread its cluthes so that nobody was in the position
to think from where this untouchablity came. Working classes who strive to
produce livelihood were neglected by so called upper castes. Majority of the
masses were not at all getting the true knowledge about god. The new religion Lingayathism
helps to come out of the restriction religion.
During
the 16th century,
The theology of Martin
Luther was instrumental in
influencing the Protestant
Reformation, specifically topics dealing with Justification
by Faith, the relationship between the Law
and the Gospel (also an
instrumental component of Reformed
theology), and various other theological ideas
The theology
of Martin Luther, break and spoil the “system” of late medieval church. His
protestant against church is successfully creating a new religious structure
within Christendom. The development of new Christian discourse of faith would
produce a new religious theology and philosophy within Christianity. The
theology of Martin Luther brings lots change in religious activity people
admire and practice it.
Hence, the
ideas of Basavanna and Marin Luther, focuses on the commoners life. They
explore many new ideas to bring new faith in commoner’s life. The Oppressed
common people having desire for change in society, under new religious stigma
they feel happy.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
The contribution Basavanna and
Martin Luther as socio-religious -reformer, to bring stability in life of
common people is very important. They
fight for justice, moral, inequality and incorrect activity of the religious
and social norms. They condemn brutality, cruelty, and inhuman activity. The
religious and social norms become the only few people control. In the context
of this domination they wish to complete freedom in religious and social
activity. That wishes turns to revolutionary movements, the movements bring a
several changes.
Throughout the discussion of this
dissertation, concentrates the religious and social conflicts in society. In
one side there is domination of the so called high class people towards the low
class people. In other side there is happy and luxurious life of the high class
people. This discrimination in the society makes to revolutionary change that
was perfectly taken by Basavanna in India and Martin Luther in Germany.
The oppression is happening in
two ways, physical oppression and mental oppression. In physical oppression,
under slavery system in India, and feudalism in Germany, domination of rich
people destroys common people life. In mental level oppression they are forcing
to follow religious and social norms. This type brutality openly challenged by
Basavanna and Martin Luther.
If, compare to Basavanna and
Martin Luther, Basavanna was earlier, one who started movement in the 12th
century. His movements focus on religious and social discrimination existence
in India. In India it was the time a very rigid, restriction, bounded. Caste
system, social hierarchy, and hegemony, are become power transformer towards
weaker section. Movement against Brahmanism, through his Vachanas, he protested
against the discrimination practiced by Brahmins caste, creed, colour, gender
and so on.
The condition of the lower caste
people during those days was pathetic. There was unspeakable inequality among
the people in the name of castes. Certain castes had got all the privileges and
others are not. Basavanna observe all the discrimination and inequality from
the society. Through his Vachanna and preaches he brings a radical changes in
society. What he preach he followed it he give importance to everybody. He says
one of his Vachana.
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“Whose is he, whose is he, o whose?”
Let everybody say rather “He
is ours, he is ours, ours!”
O Lord Kudalasangama deva, Let me be a son in your great house!
Basavanna one of early
person in India. Protest against caste system and fight against the
practicing religious and social activities. He gave respectable position to
all caste in his mystics assembly (Annubhavamantappa build by Sharanas) to
discuss various issues of society.
Basavanna throughout his
life he gives importance equality and freedom all people in society. He
embraced lower caste people; he gave equal opportunity to speak in the
Annubhavamanatappa. He went to lower caste people house and talk with them.
He encourages inter-caste marriage. He gives equal right to woman. He gave
suggestion to worship istalinga instead of going to temple. This positive
sense of Basavanna made a great socio-religious reformer of 12th
century.
Martin Luther begins his
movement, in 16th century. His movements also very similar to
Basavanna. Weather it is religious reformation or social reformation, he follows
similar ideals of Basavanna. It doesn’t mean that he follows Basavanna, in
order to reform which is not correct, how they led movement against it,
that’s important.
During the 16th
century Martin Luther, firstly he started movement against the pope
illegality in church. The Pope illegality is involvement in corruption and he
is busy with making money and wealth. He also has relationship with several
women’s; He completely ignores the Bible’s scripture and following his own
ideology in church. Luther say’s in his Theses,
“It is a wrongful act, due
to ignorance, when priests retain the canonical penalties on the dead in
purgatory.”
(.. theses no.10)
This kind of activity done
by pope made furious to Luther protest against it. Before it in Europe there
was renaissance movement So many humanist and thinkers bring lots of changes
in Europe. But in the religious reformation Martin Luther initiated it.
Martin Luther condemns pope
and church authoritative. He written several works and gives public speech
against it. In his “Ninety-Five-These” he challenges to answer his question,
but when pope fail to answer his question, he started revolutionary movement.
People already tired with the church authority. They supported him and
participate in the movement. When followers of Luther’s oppose the Roman
Catholic Church it turns to initiate new religion within Christendom. Later
Martin Luther founded Protestant Church, against the Catholic Church. Luther
theology helps to people to find peaceful life. This changes brigs lots of
changes in society.
Hence, Basavnaa and Martin
Luther their place, space, regions, may different but their views, ides and
ideology is very similar.
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