The Veerashaiva movement evolved in an attempt to simplyfy religion and create social order. Tradition wrongly claims that the sect was started by five saints namely, Renuka, Daruka, Ekorama, Panditaradhya and Vishwaradhya. Latest research has proved that there was no person called Renukacharya. Few selfish Jangamas created Renukacharya out of Revanasiddha. Revanasiddha was elder contemporary of Basavanna. It was Basavanna, the prime minister of king Bijjala who gave it momentum and inspirational direction, in the process he established a new religion called Lingayat.

Basaveshwara was born in 1105 in the town of Bagevadi in present day Bijapur district in Karnataka state. He was a Brahmin and the son of Madiraja and Madamba. He is generally believed to have founded the veera saiva sect. He travelled to Kalyan a place near modern Bombay, India during the rule of King Bijjala (1157-1167 A.D). From an early age, Basavanna disliked religious rituals and tried to distance himself from it. He refused to undergo the brahminical thread ceremony. He left Basavana Bagevadi and went to Kudalasangama, a near by town to study spirituality under Isanya Guru. He found employment in the treasury of king Bijjala and his efforts and hard work did not go unnoticed. He married the daughter of minister Baladeva. He often gathered around him large number of devotees of lord Shiva.

His maternal uncle Baladeva was a minister in the court of King Bijjala. There are multiple theories attributed to the appointment of Basava as a minister in the court of Bijjala. There are multiple theories attributed to the appointment of Basava as a minister in the court of Bijjala.

When his uncle Baladeva fell sick and was bedridden, the latter's responsibilities was transferred to Basavanna Another theory suggests that Basavanna successfully deciphered an inscription that disclosed the location of a treasure. This pleased King Vijjala who appointed Basava as a minister. According to Basavapurana, when Basavanna assumed power, he began distributing gifts to all the devotees of Lord Shiva. The other people felt left out and began instigating King who later cruelly punished two devotees of Siva. Much to the discontent of the orthodox Brahmins of Kalyani, Basavanna preached his casteless beliefs even in the regal capital, Kalyani.

The Anubhava Mantapa, an academy of mysticism, a great centre of religious discussions, was founded at Kalyani. It was from here the Basavanna taught his teachings to a growing number of devotees of lord Shiva. During this time, he conducted a marriage between a lower caste man and a brahmin girl, something the orthodoxy in Kalyani could not accept. They complained to King Bijjala II about this and wanted the parties involved punished. The king had Haralayya and Madhuvayya, the fathers of the groom and the bride executed. This atrocity of the ruler stunned the followers of Basavanna, and soon it became a signal for a widespread anger and discontent. In order not to kindle a raging fire among his followers, Basavanna moved back to Kudalasangama.

In the capital however, chaos reigned. One theory says King Bijjala was assassinated by Jagadeva, a cousin of Basavanna. This led to widespread resentment against the Virashaiva community which seemed to have suffered a setback, though only temporarily. The movement that had been inspired by Basavanna would regain its regal patronage during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire.