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RELIGIOUS SECTS
was born on earth as their son, becoming incarnate by command of Siva, on his learning from Nárada the decline of the Saira faith and prevalence of other less orthodox systems of religion. The child was denominated after the Basva or Basara, the bull of the deity. On his arriving at the age of investiture he refused to assume the thread ordinarily worn by Brahmans, or to acknowledge any Guru except ÍśVARA or Siva. He then departed to the town of Kalyán, the capital of Bijala or Tijala Ruya, and obtained in marriage Gangámbé, the daughter of the Dandandyak, or minister of police. From thence he repaired to Sangamestara, where he received from Sangamesrara Srámi initiation in the tenets of the Tira Saira faith. He was invited back from this place to succeed his father-in-law upon his decease in the office he had held.
After his return to Kalyán, his sister, who was one of his first disciples, was delivered of a son, Chenna Basara, who is not unfrequently confounded with his uncle, and regarded, perhaps more correctly, as the founder of the sect.
After recording these events the work enumerates various marvellous actions performed by Basara and several of his disciples, such as converting grains of corn to pearls -- discovering hidden treasures -- feeding multitudes -- healing the sick, and restoring the dead to life. The following are some of the aneedotes narrated in the Purana.
Basava having made himself remarkable for the profuse bounties he bestowed upon the Jangamas, helping himself from the Royal Treasury for that purpose, the other ministers reported his conduct to Bijala, who called upon him to account for the money in his charge. Basava smiled, and giving the keys of the Treasury to the king, requested him to examine it, which being done, the amount was found wholly undiminished. Bijala thereupon caused it to be proclaimed, that whoever calumniated Basara should have his tongue cut out.
A Jangama, who cohabited with a dancing girl, sent a slave for his allowance of rice to the house of Basara, where the messenger saw the wife of the latter, and on his return reported to the dancing girl the magnificence of her attire. The mistress
