BENGALURU: The debate on a separate religion tag for Lingayats/Veerashaivas seems to be getting shriller. On Thursday, the heads of 40 Lingayat mutts and other leaders, including a few ministers, came together to pass a resolution demanding religion status for Lingayats. They even demanded that Veerashaivas not use Basavanna’s vachanas.
The meeting was attended by Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil and Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni. Later in the day, representatives of the group presented a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah urging the state and central governments to accord separate religion tag for Lingayats.
The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha too is headed by Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa while Municipal Administration Minister Eshwar Khandre is the general secretary. The debate on a separate religion tag for Lingayats/Veerashaivas seems to be getting shriller. On Thursday, the heads of 40 Lingayat mutts and other leaders, including a few ministers, came together to pass a resolution demanding religion status for Lingayats.
Speaking to media after a five-hour marathon meeting, former IAS officer S M Jamdar said Veerashaivas should not use Basavanna’s vachanas nor adopt his philosophy. He said the resolution directs seers and heads of the Virakta Mutts to propagate Lingayat name and philosophy. If they fail to do so, they should step down.
Jamdar claimed that Lingayat ‘religion’ was founded by social reformer Basavanna in the 12th century and his compilation of vachanas is the holy book for Lingayats. “Our demands are not new. In 1941, at a convention of the Mahasabha in Davanagere, it was unanimously decided to rename it as Akhila Bharatha Lingayat Mahasabha. The meeting declared Lingayat is an independent religion. Even after 77 years, the resolution has not been implemented. We are just seeking its implementation.’’
When asked if they will register the Lingayath Mahasabha afresh, he said there is no need as the Veerashiva Mahasabha itself had passed the resolution. “However, if needed, we will go in for fresh registration,’’ he added.
Recently, the Veerashaiva Mahasabha held a meeting to discuss the ongoing debate and had passed a resolution stating that both Veerashaivas and Lingayats are the same. The Mahasabha had also asked community leaders to not air their differences in public.
In the erstwhile Mysore state, caste census was conducted five times between 1881 and 1931. These mention Lingayats as a major grouping and Veerashaivas were listed as 38th among 99 sub-castes in backward communities. “We have all the documents to show that Lingayat grouping is different from Hindu religion,’’ he said.
Jamdar said the Ligayat grouping, like Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, is an offshoot of Hinduism. While others have been granted religious minority status, Lingayats were left out. “We are not here for a conflict with Hindus,” he said. He demanded that rights and benefits under Articles 25, 28, 29 and 30 of the Constitution be extended to Lingayats too.
The seer of Thontadarya mutt at Gadag said they will invite the ‘Panchamutt’ heads and other religious leaders for an interaction. “We will convince them,” he said.
Divided by political, religious lines
LINGAYATS
Political backers
Ministers M B Patil, Sharanprakash Patil, Basavaraja Rayareddy, Vinay Kulkarni, MP Prakash Hukkeri, other Congress leaders including Raju Alagur, Ashok Pattanashetty, B R Yavagal, Shantanagowda, MLC Kondaji, former BJP MLC Premila Nesargi and senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti were present at Thursday’s meeting
Religious backers
Sri Murugharajendra Swamiji from Chitradurga, Thontadarya Swamiji from Gadag, Pattadevaru swamiji from Bhalki (Bidar district), Beli mutt swamiji of Bengaluru, Mahantesh Swamiji, Akka Annapoorna Thaayi and others
VEERASHAIVAS
Political backers
Ministers Eshwar Khandre, SS Mallikarjun, former minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, former JD(S) MLA N Thippanna and others
Religious backers
The Panchamutts, including Balehonnur Mahaswamiji
Resolutions passed
Veerashaivas should not use Basavanna’s vachanas nor adopt his philosophy
Seers and heads should propagate Lingayat name, philosophy. If they fail to do so, they should step down
Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha should be renamed as Akhila Bharatha Linga-
yath Mahasabha
Lingayat should be declared as independent religion
Lingayat was established by social reformer Basavanna in the 12th century