Cong move to give a big push to the demand for separate religion tag for Lingayats begins political churning.Political rivals see it as Siddaramaiah’s poli-tricks ahead of Assembly elections.Lingayats divided over call to delink from Hinduism.Special session of Veerashaiva Mahasabha to be convened to spell out its stand
BENGALURU: The ruling Congress, which has gained a new vigour after the recent revamp of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee team, is preparing to forge a new social engineering that could change the political landscape of the state. The grand old party is breathing fresh life into the demand for a separate religion status for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, a move that has the potential to raise a storm within the community and change the political fortunes of all the three major political parties in the state.
Though the demand for a separate religion tag was being voiced by a section of the community for a long time now, the sudden decision of five ministers belonging to the Veerashaiva community in the Sidddaramaiah Cabinet- Higher Education Minister Basavaraja Rayareddy, Minister for Mining Vinay Kulkarni, Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Municipal Administration Eshwar Khandre and Horticulture Minister S S Mallikarjun-- to tour the state to bring greater momentum for the movement for a separate religion ahead of the forthcoming Assembly election has raised questions about the real intentions behind it.
Many welfare programmes of the Siddaramaiah government for the weaker sections has consolidated the Congress’ AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backwards and dalits) support base. The party leadership is now making efforts to widen its social base. The recent developments reflect these efforts for a new caste engineering with special focus to play the L(Lingayat) card to forge LAHINDA, to strike at the roots of BJP’s support base.
The move has left the BJP shocked as Veerashaiva community is seen as its strong vote bank. Sensing the high stakes involved, BJP has decided to tread cautiously. Though BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa has accused Siddaramaiah of trying to divide the community for electoral gains, he has not opposed the proposal as such.
Pushed on the defensive, Yeddyurappa said, “Only All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha is entitled to take a decision. I will abide by its decision.”
Leader of the opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said, “Siddaramaiah has been pursuing the divide and rule policy for electoral gains. The demand for a separate religion tag by Veerashaiva community has been there for a long time. Why has Siddaramaiah raked up the issue now which did not find favour with the UPA government?”
The Congress move has caused a rift in JD(S) too with party senior MLC Basavaraja Horratti supporting the demand for a separate religion tag and appreciating the government’s move to recommend the proposal to the Centre if the Veerashaiva community submits a memorandum to the state government in this regard.
However, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy did not mince words when he remarked, “Siddaramaiah is playing dirty politics with an eye on the coming election. It could lead to dangerous consequences. What if tomorrow Vokkaligas demand a tag of separate religion and Kurubas too follow suit? Where will this lead to?”
The Congress plan has put even the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha in a fix as there is no consensus within the sabha on the issue. Mahasabha president and senior Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa himself is not in favour of any move that could divide the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. A special convention of the Mahasabha will be convened soon to discuss the issue and finalise its stand, Shivashankarappa has said.
Cong’s moves to court Veerashaivas
S R Patil appointed second working president of KPCC
Takes charge at a convention held in Kudalasangama, holy pilgrim centre of Veerashaivas.
Siddu govt makes it compulsory to have Basavanna’s portrait in all govt offices
Govt decides to celebrate Hemareddy Mallamma Jayanthi as state-sponsored event
Siddaramaiah conveys his readiness to support demand for separate religion tag for Lingayats if the community presents a formal demand
M Chidananda Murthy
Veerashaiva sect was started much before Basavanna
Saying Veerashaivas and Lingayats are different is utter stupidity. The Veerashaiva sect was not started by Basavanna, but much before that. In two to three vachanas of Basavanna, he quotes Sanskrit shlokas. Sixty years before Basavanna, Kondaguli Kesharaj in his writing used both the words Veerashaiva and Lingayat. It is foolishness to say it is a different religion. Even the Constitution identifies Veerashaivas and Lingayats as part of Hindus.
“The defining feature of Hindus is to accept Vedas with reverence and the Veerashaivas keep reverence in Vedas. Otherwise why would the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru run a Sanskrit school?
“All this is being done to gain minority status and to avail reservations. This move to get new religion tag will break the community irreparably. In 1904, the Akhila Veerashaiva Mahasabha had declared that the community was part of Hindu religion. It is ridiculous to now say they will gather opinion and then take a call on it.”
(The writer is a noted historian)
Prof N Prabhudev
They are Two faces of the same coin
Lingayatism is a Shaivite religious tradition in India centred on Hindu God Shiva as the universal God in the iconographic form of Ishtalinga. Shiva is the supreme God of Shaivism.
According to historical and literary evidence, the Veerashaiva sect was founded by the Panchaacharyas or the five great Prophets in the 6th century. This view, however, is in the realm of mythology.
Undoubtedly, Basavanna is the architect of Lingayat sect and it was started in 12th century. The adherents of this faith are known as Lingayats and the followers are also called Sharanas. Basavanna as is widely believed was born into a Brahmin family but revolted against their intolerance and started the Veerashaiva Lingayatism as an inclusive society.
Shiva transcends all attributes, and is often worshipped in an abstract manner, as God without form, in the form of Linga. Hindus believe Shiva to be one of many different forms of the universal Atman, as the one true God from whom all the other deities and principles are emanations.
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Life, work, worship and religious duties are inseparable in Hinduism. The same practice is seen in Veerashaiva philosophy. For a Sharana, work is worship and it is difficult to say where his Kayaka or the work starts and the worship begins or ends in his daily life. Lingayatism is considered a Hindu sect and shares beliefs with Hinduism. The terms Lingayatism and Veerashaivism have been used synonymously.
The oldest and the most revered Lingayat seer, the Siddaganga Swamiji, has declared that Lingayats are Hindus. At best, Veerashaiva Lingayat society is an offshoot of the Hindu tree.
There is no need for micro dissections and individual misinterpretations. Veerashaiva Lingayats and Hindus are the two faces of the same coin. In 21st century we need to focus on unity in diversity and not fragmentation. Unfortunately, India is a cast-ridden secular country. Many look at only short-term personal gains.
The demand for a separate identity has been kept alive for the past decade by some Lingayat leaders; most of whom happen to be the Veerashaiva Mahasabha’s office-bearers who stand to lose politically and most of them are in their eighties not only in age but also in their beliefs.
After stoking Kannadiga pride by promoting Kannada in schools and supporting a separate flag for the state, the government has begun playing the caste card to divide the major Lingayat community by reviving an old demand.
The last census showed that there are only 55 lakh Veerashaivas as a call was given to register Lingayats as other religions with a specific instruction not to register as Lingayat-Hindu by some interested peers and parties. The total number of Lingyats is anywhere up to 120 lakh.
(The writer is former VC of Bangalore University and former chairman of Karnataka State Health Commission)
K Marulasiddappa
No, Differences between the two are too many
Religion comprises two aspects: belief and rituals. Accordingly, there is a lot of difference between Hinduism and Lingayat. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in demanding a separate religion. I support such a demand. However, the issue should not be politicised and has to be treated as a cultural and religious matter. Unfortunately, it is now taking a political turn.
Recently, I was reading about M S Golwalkar’s views on Hindu religion. (Golwalkar was Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). He has listed many characteristics and practices of the Hindu religion. None of those practices are found among the Lingayat community or even mentioned in Vachanas. They reject Vedas and Vedic rituals. They do not believe in rebirth, which according to Golwalkar is one of the major beliefs among Hindus.
If Sikhism and Jainism are separate religions, then Lingayat too is a separate religion. Pejawar Swamiji recently stated that both worship Lord Shiva and are part of the Hindu religion. However, we need to take note of the way they worship Shiva. There is a difference.Hindus worship Shiva as Stavaralinga - worshiping Linga in a temple - while Lingayats worship as Ishtalinga - by holding Linga in their hands. In fact, Vachanakaras had opposed building of temples. There are many differences between beliefs and rituals too. So there is nothing wrong in demanding a separate religion.
It is wrong to put forward such a demand with profit as a motive. It is a philosophical and cultural issue. It is difficult to define Hindu religion. Many say Hinduism is not a religion and it is a way of life. If that is the case, it will have Jains, Sikhs and all others. If it is a religion, all are different.
Giving separate status of religion to Lingayats is good for all. For Lingayats, it is a question of identity, They feel they are part of a religion that is opposed to their beliefs and rituals. They have been fighting for it since long. Their demand was not met as Hindus were politically strong. The Veerashaiva Mahasabha had been demanding it even before independence. They had submitted several memorandums to the British rulers and they had even gone to court demanding separate religion status.
(The author is a Kannada writer and former chairman of Karnataka Nataka Academy)
LINGAYAT POPULATION
Community leaders claim it is around 17 per cent of the total population in the state, while the caste survey, the report of which is yet to be published, reportedly put the number at less than 10 per cent. Community leaders were not happy with the finding. Lingayat population is high in Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Ballari, Raichur districts
IN OTHER STATES
Andhra Pradesh,Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra
5 MAJOR MUTTS
Rambhapuri,Ujjaini, Srisailam, Kashi, Kedar
HISTORY
Shaivism (Shiva) is as old as Agama period having history of thousands of years, according to scholars. There are six sects in Shaivism, including Veerashaiva. The Veerashaivas follow customs of Shaivism, including chanting of mantras, worshipping idols and following all traditions. Historians say 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, who was born into a Veerashaiva Brahmin family, decided to come out of it because of its rigidity and took Diksha from Jataveda Muni at Kudalasangama of Bagalkot district and later arrived at Basavakalyan in the present Bidar district. He brought people of all castes, including lower castes, together. The Veerashaivas wear ‘Linga’. Basaveshwara advocated the new philosophy of wearing the ‘Ishta Linga’ round the neck. The people who used to get Diksha and took Linga from their Guru and wore it were identified as Lingayat (Linga+Ayata = Lingayata, meaning one who receives linga), according to scholars.
BELIEFS
They do not believe in rebirth. The word Lingayikya used for dead persons, which means getting oneness with Linga
CUSTOMS & RITUALS
They reject Vedas and all Vedic rituals and practices. Unlike other castes of Hinduism, mainly Brahmin where Upanayana ceremony is restricted to male, deeksha can be taken by both men and women in presence of a sadguru
PROMINENT SAINTS
Basavanna (in pic), Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna
HISTORICAL RULERS
Kittur Rani Chennamma (in pic), Belawadi Mallamma, Keladi Chennamma, Hakka Raya, Bukka Raya, Shivappa Nayaka, Chikka Veerarajendra
PROMINENT LEADERS
Former CMs Nijalingappa (in pic), B S Yeddyurappa,J H Patel, S R Bommai, Jagadish Shettar, former DyCM MP Prakash, former president B D Jatti, retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Shivaraj Patil, former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala Justice V S Malimath
LITTERATEURS
Rashtrakavi G S Shivarudrappa (in pic), Chennaveera Kanavi,M Chidananda-murthy,M M Kalburgi,Patil Puttappa
MUSIC
Pandit Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai (in pic), Basavaraj Rajguru, Mallikarjun Mansur, Balappa Hukkeri