History

Kudalasangama (also written as Kudala Sangama) in India is an important centre of pilgrimage for Lingayats. It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Almatti Dam in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. The Krishna and Malaprabha River rivers merge here and flow east towards Srisaila (another pilgrim center) Andhra Pradesh. The Aikya Mantapa or the holy Samādhi of Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect of Hindu religion along with Linga, which is believed to be self-born (Swayambhu), is here. The Kudala Sangama Development Board takes care of the maintenance and development.
An inscription in the temple of AD 1213 records a gift to the god Acheshvara. Another stone record of AD 1160 refers to land grant to deities, Kaleshvara and Achesvara.

It is believed that in the 12th century Jathaveda Muni Sarangamath had set up an education centre here and Basaveshvara, Channabasavanna and Akkanagamma were students. Basaveshvara spent his boyhood here and, after his return from Kalyana, he is said to have become one with the God at this place. The vachanas composed by him are dedicated to the presiding deity here, Sangamanatha.
Vishwaguru (‘universal teacher’) Basavanna is the famous prophet and social reformer who was born in Bagewadi (Basavana Bagewadi), a small village in Bijapur District, in North Karnataka, also called Ingaleshwara Bagewadi. Agrahara was an important place in town. The house of Madiraja the chief of the township was situated here. Basaveshwara was born to Madiraja and Madambike on third day of Vyshakha month of Anandanama year in Rohini star, according to the Hindu calendar (the year coincides with AD 1134). Basavanna was a great saint; he is considered Guru by some and some believe in him as an incarnation of Nandi, Lord Shiva’s greatest devotee. A true visionary of his time and a revolutionary who started Lingayat sect. Basavanna’s ultimate aim was to make this fundamental right available to each and everyone. Basavanna, keeping welfare as the ultimate aim, expedited programmes to take religion to the people by preaching and writing religious literature in Kannada. His samadhi is at Kudalasangama.

The main attractions in and around Kudala Sangama are:

• The Sangamanatha Temple in Chalukya style
• The Aikya Linga of Basaveshwara
• The Mahamane Campus of the Basava Dharma Peetha
• The Poojavana, a mini forest with neat paths amidst the trees.
• The Sabha Bhavana. Colossal, it is a spacious auditorium with a seating capacity for 6,000. The exquisite doorways on the four sides – named after Gangambike, Nilambike, Channabasavanna and Akka Nagamma – surround the huge grey dome in the centre.
• The Basava Gopura. Tall, it is slated to house the Basava International Centre. The 200 feet (61 m) high symmetrical tower is imposing.
• Museum. The Ashrama, meant for visitors to stay, also has a museum with a collection of sculptures related to Basavanna and the history of Karnataka state.