Every study of Lingayatism lights up when the 12th-century Vachana poets come into view—true rockstars of social reform who spun devotion to Shiva into a challenge against caste and ritualism.

Basavanna
• Often hailed as the founder of the movement, Basavanna’s fiery Vachanas (rhymed couplets) argued that genuine devotion beats empty ceremonies. His Anubhava Mantapa in Kalyana became a think-tank centuries ahead of its time, drawing men and women as equals.

Allama Prabhu
• A mystic philosopher who spoke in riddles and koans, Allama’s verses peel back layers of the self. His songs celebrate the “inner guru” and insist on direct experience over dusty scriptures.

Akka Mahadevi
• One of the first women mystics in South Asia to speak so boldly about spiritual love, Mahadevi’s poems cast the body as a temple where Shiva dwells. Riding the “torrent of grace,” she’s still an inspiration for gender equality.

Channabasavanna
• Nephew and political heir to Basavanna, Channabasavanna kept the flame alive during turbulent times. His writings balance personal devotion with concrete steps toward a just society.

Madivala Machideva
• Championing washerfolk outcasts, Machideva’s Vachanas insist that true worth comes from dharma, not birth. His legacy survives in grassroots cooperatives even today.

Siddarama
• Blending poetry and public service, Siddarama’s verses urged compassion and selfless action. Temples he founded in North Karnataka remain lively hubs of social work.

Fast-forward to modern times, and the late Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Math emerges as a 20th-century beacon—feeding thousands daily, running schools, and reminding everyone that “service is Shiva.” His recent 2019 passing sparked statewide tributes and rekindled interest in Lingayat ethics of equality.

Together, these voices—etched in stone at Basava temples or carried in recordings on smartphone apps—still resonate. Their legacy? A tradition where devotional poetry and real-world reform dance hand in hand.