The twelfth-century witnessed the emergence of a new movement in Karnataka, led by a Brahmana named Basavanna (1106-68) who was initially a Jain and a minister in the court of a Chalukya king.
His followers were known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga).
The movement focused on the annihilation of caste-based and gender-based inequality in society.