ULAVI KSHETRA: SACRED SPACE, HERITAGE TRADITIONS, AND COMMUNITY IN KARNATAKA

Ulavi Kshetra, situated in the ecologically rich Western Ghats of Karnataka, is one of the most prominent sacred centers of the Lingayat/Sharana tradition. It is revered as the samādhi of Chennabasavanna, a 12th-century reformer and disciple of Basavanna, who safeguarded vachana literature and expanded the Sharana movement’s egalitarian ethos. Despite its religious and cultural significance, Ulavi has received limited academic attention. This study explores Ulavi as a sacred space, its intangible heritage traditions, its role in shaping community life, and the challenges it faces in heritage management. Using a qualitative, ethnographic approach, the study integrates archival research, field observation during the annual Jatre, interviews with trustees, devotees, and local residents, and documentation of architectural and ecological conditions. The findings show that Ulavi embodies both continuity and transformation: while ritual and oral traditions remain vibrant, tangible heritage faces threats from modernization, tourism pressures, and ecological degradation. The annual Jatre sustains local livelihoods but simultaneously strains infrastructure and fragile ecosystems. The study concludes that Ulavi Kshetra is not only a site of pilgrimage but also a living cultural archive of Karnataka’s Lingayat identity. It calls for a community-driven heritage management model that integrates conservation ethics, ecological sustainability, and inclusive governance. Such an approach ensures that devotion and cultural memory can coexist with biodiversity and heritage preservation. Keywords: Ulavi Kshetra, Sacred Space, Lingayat Tradition, Heritage Traditions, Intangible Heritage, Community, Western Ghats