Anubhava Mantapa (Kannada: ಅನುಭವ ಮಂಟಪ) 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 Veerashaivas. 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 propogate 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 was originally called the Shivanubhava Mantapa. Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... Virasaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. ... Virasaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. ... Allama Prabhu(ca 1150) was a mystic Veerashaiva saint and poet of the 12th century. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The vachanas are a body of work, and a form of writing, in Kannada. ... Virasaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. ... Akka Mahadevi (ಅಕ್ಕ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ) was a prominent figure of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement in the 12th Century Karnataka. ... Basaveshvara Shree Basava (also known as Basaveshwara or Basavanna) is known as the reviver of the Veerashaiva (Lingayats) religion in India. ...