Blogs >> Travel & Vacation >>
World's tallest 108-ft statue of Basavanna attracting tourists
World's tallest 108-ft statue of Basavanna attracting tourists
by M K Vidyaranya
A 108-foot tall giant statue of 12th century social reformer Basavanna, which is said to be only one of its kind in the world, which was dedicated to the humanity on October 28, 2012 at Basavakalyan in Bidar district, 745 kms from Bangalore by the Basava Dharma Peetha has been drawing large crowds.
It took eight long years for Shimoga sculptor Sridhar Murthy to complete the statue, built on a platform 80 feet wide and 24 feet high.
Besides Ssridhara Murthy, around 60 skilled labourers toiled daily for eight years to create the statue on a hillock and the statue stands 182 ft above the ground level.
Back in 2004, the cost was estimated at Rs 1 crore, but, so far, the Basava Dharma Peetha has spent Rs 6 crore on the project. The statue is said to have consumed 300 tons of steel and 16,000 bags of cement besides huge quantities of sand and other materials.
The platform is a two-storey structure with a facility for screening a 3-D sound and light film depicting 32 main events in the life of Basavanna. This is said to have been built on the line of the one at Teen Murti Bhavan in New Delhi.
Channa-basavananda Swamiji of Basava Dharma Peetha says, the statue has been built to draw international attention to the unique Vachana literature which spread the message of equality.
“During the 12th century, Bhakti Bhandari Basavanna or Basavaeswara, the Indian Philosopher, the Social Reformer and 770 Shivasharanas lived at Basavaklayan and set up the first parliament of the world –Anubhava Mantap. After the Kalyana kranti, the Shivasharanas left Basavakalyan and most of the caves, including the Anubhava Mantap, are in a dilapidated state. With a view to restore the past glory, Mate Mahadevi has undertook the project.
Besides the statue, there is also a cave built for Basavanna, another for Akka Mahadevi, which are 500 meters deep inside the hillock,anda Sharana Grama (village of saints) at Basavakalyan.
Basava Dharma Peetha Charitable Trust with the intension of reviving Sharana cultural heritage purchased a land of 3 acres on 21-12-2001 by the side of main road nearby the entrance of Basava Kalyana town. Later on the Trust purchased 17.5 acres just adjacent to the previous land and has built a prayer hall and living rooms. Haralayya Tirtha - an attractive water reservoir is formed.
Sri Basaveswara cave and Akkamahadevi cave have been chiselled and carved beautifully in laterite rock-soil. Sharana village formed pictures the concept of 12th Century Sharanas engaged actively in their Kayakas(occupations).
The Trust is running an orphanage. There is a beautiful Hillock which is named as Sharana Shaila. Beautiful rolling land scape is the high light of the place. On Sharana Shaila is erected Lord Basavanna’s statue of 108’ height. It is structured on a pedestal of 24 feet height, 60’ x 80’ size.
Basavanna (1134–1196)) fought against the practice of the caste system, which discriminated against people based on their birth,and other rituals in Hinduism. He spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas. Basavanna used Ishtalinga, an image of the Siva Linga, to eradicate untouchability, to establish equality among all human beings and as a means to attain spiritual enlightenment. These were rational and progressive social thoughts in the twelfth century.
Basaveshwara is undoubtedly one of the pioneer's of Indian Democracy created a model Parliament called the "Anubhava Mantapa," which not only gave equal proportion to men and women, but also had representatives from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The carvings of the model Parliament can be found across many temples in south India. He was a man ahead of his time, who believed that conflict should be resolved through debate and not violence. The preachings of Basavanna are forever and guiding sprit to human kind. He propagated societal concerns besides upholding values of equality. He was instrumental in delivering the messages of unique Vedic rituals in a simpler way so that the layman could understand. Dasa Sahitya and Vachana Sahitya had many similarities. Basavanna’s ideologies are like lampposts to the younger generation,
Karnataka is known for its multicultural tradition that has come a long way. Karnataka is a blend of religions, cultures and traditions,
Basavanna, with his intellectual personality, struggled to eradicate untouchability. Basava literature is simpler. He was against
following caste system. His ideologies are very much essential today in a global context. He worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden and poorer sections in the society, the society is facing the evil of corruption. People should pursue spiritual ideologies in their efforts. Inner voice should be devoid of all sort of dishonesty,
Saint Basavanna fought social problems with principles based on dharmic concerns, never aspired for worldly comforts.all preachings of Basavanna were aimed at cleansing the society of evil practices and ensure social developments.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Basavanna , said Dalai Lama himself had claimed that 12 th century philosopher Basavanna's preachings and ideology are solution to all the ills facing the society in this modern world.
Do not steal, do not kill. Do not utter lies;
Do not lose your temper. Do not detest others;
Do not glorify yourself. Do no blame others.
This alone is purity within. This alone is purity without;
And this alone is the way to please our Lord Kudalasangama.
These words are very simple. But they contain the very essence of all the moral codes of the world and of the religion of
man. Our life must be pure both inwardly and outwardly. That alone is the way to win God's grace. And God's grace fills our life with
joy.
Basavanna was modest and used to say, 'There is none smaller than I.' He used to say that he did not want to be praised. He would work with the people as one of them. He always addressed them, courteously in affectionate terms, as 'father', 'brother' and so on.
He grew to be a great light shedding brightness not only over our motherland but also over the whole world.
========================================================================================================
These are currently the biggest statues in India.
Sl No. Statue Place Hieght
1 Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman Swami Hanuman
Paritala, Andhra Pradesh 135 ft
2 Thiruvalluvar Statue Thiruvalluvar Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 133 ft
3 Statue of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh 123 ft
4 Shiva of Murudeshwara, Murudeshwara, Karnataka 122 ft
5 Statue of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche Namchi, Sikkim 118 ft
7 A 108-foot tall statue of 12th century social reformer Basavakalyan, Bidar,Karnataka 108 ft
Basavanna, which is largest of its kind in the world
8 Hanuman Murti in Shimla Himachal Pradesh 108 ft
9 Kagyu Monastery Buddha Dehradun, Uttarakhand 107 ft
10 Hanuman in Nandura Nandura, Maharashtra 105 ft
11 Shiva of the Har-ki-Pauri Shiva Haridwar, Uttarakhand 100 ft
12 Chinmaya Ganadhish Ganesha Kolhapur, Maharashtra 85 ft
==========================================================================================================
|
|
