Anubhava Mantapa

Anubhava Mantapa, established by Basavanna in the 12th century C.E. is a religious complex located in Tipranth area, Basavakalyan in Bidar district of Karnataka. It is the first religious parliament in the world, whose literal meaning is "experience pavilion", and was an academy of mystics, saints and philosophers of the lingayat faith in the 12th century. It was the fountainhead of all religious and philosophical thought pertaining to the lingayat. It was presided over by the mystic Allama Prabhu and numerous Sharanas from all over Karnataka and other parts of India were participants. This institution was also the fountainhead of the Vachana literature which was used as the vector to propagate Veerashaiva religious and philosophical thought. Other giants of veerashaiva theosophy like Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna and Basavanna himself were participants in the Anubhava Mantapa. The Anubhava Mantapa is also called the Mahaamane. PM Narendra Modi have made a reference of Anubhava Mantapa in his speech during the inauguration of new parliamentary building, he also mentioned that the Anubhava Mantapa established by Basavanna in the 12th century is the foundation for parliamentary democracy.