Basavanna, also known as Basaveshwara, was the chief minister in the court of King Bijjala of the Kalachuri dynasty. However, his influence extended far beyond politics. Through his teachings and writings, Basavanna initiated the Lingayat movement, which emphasized devotion to Lord Shiva in the form of the Ishtalinga — a personal symbol of divinity that every individual, regardless of caste or gender, could wear.