‘Anubhava Mantapa’: First Parliament Of The World

• 11 Dec 2020

Context: Recently, while laying foundation for the new Parliament Building in Delhi, the Prime Minister in his speech, said that the Parliament system had come into existence in 12th century itself with Bhagwan Basavanna establishing the Anubhava Mantapam.

About Anubhava Mantapa

• Anubhava Mantapa whose literal meaning is "experience center" was an academy of mystics, saints and philosophers of the ‘Veerashaiva’ faith in the 12th century.
• It was the fountainhead of all religious and philosophical thought pertaining to the Human Values, Ethics.
• It was presided over by the mystic AllamaPrabhu and numerous Sharanas from all over Karnataka and other parts of India were participants.
• Prabhudeva, a great Yogi of extraordinary achievement, was the president and Lord Basava acted as the prime minister. Chennabasava can be compared to the speaker while at the same time working as the editor, and compiler of Vachana literature.
• The only difference between the present day parliament and AnubhavaMantapa is that the members were not elected by the people, but were picked up or nominated by the higher authorities of the Mantapa; the necessary qualification expected being spiritual attainment.
• The problems tackled were of a various nature covering social, religious, spiritual, yogic psychological, economic and literary spheres.
• Members of the Mantapa and followers of the religion were given full freedom of thought, speech and action. They were allowed to put any questions or doubts to get them cleared in front of the congregation and a systematic program was launched to record and to preserve the dialogues that were going on in the House.
• Anubhava Mantapa criticized sharply the meaningless differentiation of human beings as high or low either on their birth or on their occupation.