IA News / Bangalore
Thousands of Lingayats from Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra gathered at Bidar in Karntaka on July 18 to demand a separate ‘religious minority’ status for their community. They contended that the Lingayats were not part of the Hindu religion nor the Veerashaiva sect.
The rally led by the Lingayat Dharma Samanvaya Samithi, represented by various Lingayat religious heads and elected representatives, urged the state government to represent their case before the Centre to accord independent religious status to the Lingayats.
The movement to delink the Lingayats from the Hindu religion is not new. Karnataka is estimated to have about 60 lakh Lingayats belonging to more than 60-odd sub-sects. The community is also accorded Backward Class status.
During the 2011 Census, the community leaders had made an appeal to its members to reject their classification under “Hindu” and opt for “others”.
The rally, attended by Lingayats from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other states, was organised as part of efforts to take forward a philosophy proposed by Lingayat intellectuals like writer-researcher M M Kalburgi.
The Bidar rally was also attended by Korneshwar MahaSwami of Usturi Mutt, Beldal Sharana, Basava Prabhu Swamiji, Bhatambara Sri and also political leaders including Congress MLAs Rajshekar Patil, Rahim Khan, Prabhu Chavan, Ashok Kheny, Mallikarjun Khuba and Congress MLC Vijay Singh.
Participants of the rally expressed their anger over being considered a sub-sect of Hinduism. They also contended that Lingayats are not Veerashaivas.
“The Hindu religion has two sub sects – the Vaishnavas and the Shaivas. Veerashaivas are a sub sect of Shaivas. There is a huge misconception that the Veerashaivas and Lingayats are the same but we are not. Lingayats are not Hindus or sub sects of the Hindus. We are an independent religion,” said Mate Mahadevi.
Says Mate Mahadevi, head of Basava Dharma Peeta, “Lingayats are not Hindus, as we have a separate guru (Basavanna) and follow his Vachanas and not the Vedic scriptures followed by the Hindus. Our’s is a secular cult that is based on social equality.”
“Lingayatism is an independent religion founded by Basaveshwara in the 12th century. It has never been part of Hinduism. It has fought Hinduism,” Shivalinga Shivacharya, Lingayat seer from Maharashtra, said at the rally.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, assuring the Lingayat leaders of placing their demand before the Centre, has irked the BJP. While, the Lingayat community has been a traditional vote bank for the BJP, the Congress government’s enthusiasm and support to the agitation has unsettled the saffron party.
Siddaramaiah’s positive response to their demand has now triggered the anger of Lingayat strongman and BJP state President, BS Yeddyurappa.
Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga on Saturday evening, Yeddyurappa said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was trying to divide the Lingayat community.
“There is no difference between Veerashaivas and Lingayats. We are very much Hindus and cannot be separated from Hinduism. Siddaramaiah is trying to divide and rule here. He should know that the Lingayat community will stand united like always. There is no question of forming a separate religion,” BS Yeddyurappa told media persons on Saturday.