Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2024 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Who was the founder of the Lingayat sect?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (B) Basava
Basava — The Founder
Basavanna (1105–1167 AD), also known as Basaveshwara, was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, and social reformer who founded the Lingayat (Veerashaiva) sect in Karnataka. He served as a minister under the Kalachuri king Bijjala II and used his position to propagate radical social reforms. He rejected caste hierarchy, idol worship, and Brahmanical rituals, emphasizing direct devotion to Lord Shiva (represented by the Ishtalinga). His teachings are compiled in Vachanas — short prose-poems in Kannada. He also established the Anubhava Mantapa, considered one of India’s earliest democratic spiritual parliaments.
