(known as Nag Panchami) on this day Basava merged with God Neelamma Shashti (next day of Basava Panchami) on this day Neelagangambike merged with God Madival Machideva Jayanti Channabasavanna Jayanti (Deepawali) Literature Lingayat literature Several works are attributed to the founder of Lingayatism movement, Basava, and these texts are revered in the Lingayat community. In particular, these include various Vachana (literally, "what is said") such as the Shat-sthala-vachana, Kala-jnana-vachana, Mantra-gopya, Ghatachakra-vachana and Raja-yoga-vachana. Saints and Sharanas like Allamaprabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Siddarama and Basava were at the forefront of this development during the 12th century. Other important Lingayat literature includes: Shunyasampadane Mantra Gopya Shunya Sampadane Karana Hasuge The Basava Purana, a Telugu biographical epic poem which narrates the life story of Basava, was written by Palkuriki Somanatha in 13th-century, and an updated 14th-century Kannada version was written by Bhima Kavi in 1369. Both are sacred texts in Lingayatism. The book named Religion and society among the Lingayats of South India by internationally acclaimed social scientist Hiremallur Ishwaran. Vedas and shastras Lingayat (Veerashaiva) thinkers rejected the custodial hold of Brahmins over the Vedas and the shastras, but they did not outright reject the Vedic knowledge. The 13th-century Telugu Virashaiva poet Palkuriki Somanatha, author of Basava Purana—a scripture of Veerashaivas, for example asserted, "Virashaivism fully conformed to the Vedas and the shastras." Somanatha repeatedly stated that "he was a scholar of the four Vedas". Lingayatism considers the Vedas as a means, but not the sanctimonious end. It rejected various forms of ritualism and the uncritical adherence to any text including the Vedas. Anubhava Mantapa The Anubhava Mantapa literally means the "hall of spiritual experience". It has been a Lingayat institution since the time of Basava, serving as an academy of mystics, saints and poet-philosophers for discussion of spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open. It was the fountainhead of all religious and philosophical thought pertaining to the Lingayata. It was presided over by the mystic Allamaprabhu, and numerous sharanas from all over Karnataka and other parts of India were participants. This institution also helped propagate Lingayatism religious and philosophical thought. Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna and Basavanna himself were participants in the Anubhava Mantapa. Pilgrim places of Lingayats Kudalasangama Basavakalyan Basavana Bagewadi Ingaleshwar Solapur Srisailam Ulavi Ujjaini Balehonnuru Rambhapuri Sirigere Demographics Lingayats today are found predominantly in the state of Karnataka, especially in North and Central Karnataka with a sizeable population native to South