Lingayat Body Urges Karnataka to Keep Anubhava Mantapa Under Government Control

The Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM) has urged the Karnataka government to retain ownership and management control of the Anubhava Mantapa, the institution coming up at Basavakalyan in Bidar district. The demand follows a general body resolution passed by the organisation two days earlier, seeking day-to-day management of the institution from the State government.

"The State government should retain control over the Anubhava Mantapa currently being constructed in Basavakalyan in Bidar district. It should not be handed over to any private organisation or mutt," JLM national general secretary S.M. Jamadar told reporters in Belagavi on Wednesday. "The government should, however, consult stakeholder Lingayat organisations," he said.

The JLM has proposed that the government constitute a special committee comprising representatives of Lingayat mutts and Lingayat organisations to plan events, handle day-to-day management and discharge specific responsibilities at the Mantapa. Through this committee, it said, mass lunches under the Dasoha programme and literary programmes should be conducted.

Mr. Jamadar said the JLM had resolved at its recent national annual general meeting to hold programmes focused on the philosophy of Basavanna and the Sharana saints, the principle of Kayaka, gender equality and the eradication of the caste system. These would include vachana study camps and workshops.

On the project timeline, he said Minister Eshwar Khandre had stated that the Anubhava Mantapa would be inaugurated in March 2027, but a grant of ₹450 crore was yet to be released by the government to complete the work. Roadwork connecting to the Mantapa has stalled, he added. According to the JLM, construction of the Dasoha hall, pilgrim accommodation and parking facilities has not yet been approved and tenders have not been invited, and it will take another three to four months for these works to commence.

"Despite these hurdles, inaugurating the project in haste for political reasons is inappropriate. We therefore demand that the inauguration be postponed till January 2028," Mr. Jamadar said.

The Anubhava Mantapa is a revered institution in the Lingayat tradition, associated with Basavanna and the 12th-century Sharana movement. The new complex at Basavakalyan is being built as a major memorial and pilgrim centre, and its funding, timeline and management have been the subject of public discussion in Karnataka.

Mr. Jamadar also referred to plans by what he described as "some mutts and individuals aligned with the Sangh Parivar" to organise a 'Basava Bharata' programme. "We have no objection to this. However, we will not remain silent if Basava philosophy is distorted or misrepresented, or if Hindutva is incorporated into the programme," he said.

The JLM said it would launch a special campaign in January 2027 to print and distribute pamphlets across all taluks and rural areas, providing guidance to the Lingayat community on the caste census scheduled for 2026-27.

Noting a rise in inter-caste and inter-faith marriages within the Lingayat community, Mr. Jamadar said the organisation had decided to establish a special unit in every district to offer advice and guidance to such couples.

The JLM also decided to reach out to organisations representing the 38 sub-sects within the Lingayat community and offer them membership of the Mahasabha.

Office-bearers Basavaraj Rotti, Ashok Malagali and others were present at the press conference.