Shree Sharanabasaveshwara Samsthana Kalaburagi : An Overview

Book excerpt: One of the distinguishing features of an organised religion as against the folk religion is the presence of well organised socio-religious institutions through which the religion functions and prospers. Cristianity functioned through the church, buddhism prospered through the sangha and hinduism survived due to the mathas. The church, the sangha, and matha are the socio-religious institutions of their respective religions. Similarly, veerasaivism could prosper through its socio-religious organisations, like pancha pithas, the mathas and the rectories. Unlike other religions of the world, veerasaivism is one which never dependended on royal patronage. It, on the other hand, flourished and prospered through cough the mathas and the rectories. "sri sharanabasaveshwara dasoha maha mane" at kalburgi is on of such great rectories of veerasaivism which has played a determining role in the struggle for the survival and prosperity of this religious sect in hyderabad karnataka and adjoining areas, especially at the face of muslim rule. It is proposed to make a critical study of the role played by this rectory in maintaining the integrity of veerasaivism, preserving its socio religious institutions and values through several religious and educational programmes and institutions. We start with the assumption that hinduism is general and veerasaivism in particular would not have survived in this area, but for this great religious institution.