Ahead of the Karnataka elections which likely to be held sometime in next few months, the ruling Congress party has fired a salvo at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress made a political one-upmanship over the arch rivals BJP in the state and has declared Lingyatas as a separate religion. Karnataka government on Monday recognised Lingayats as a separate religious minority and accepted the recommendation of a committee under the state Minorities Commission Act. The proposal will be sent to Centre for final approval.
The Karnataka cabinet, which was to deliberate on this issue last week, deferred it to Monday. Following a four-hour marathon session, Law Minister TB Jayachandra told media persons the state government decided to accept recommendations of a committee led by Justice (retd) Nagamohan Das which advocated religious minority tag for Lingayats. He even said that those Veerashaivas who follow Basavanna’s ideals could be given religious minority status under Section 2(d) of Karnataka Minorities Act.
Jayachandra recommended that Lingayats could be given the status of separate linguistic minority as well under Section 2C of the National Commission for Minorities (Amendment) Act, 1995. Veerashaivas do not usually follow Basavanna’s ideals and the influential community heads had requested Siddaramaiah not to “break up the community for votes”.
Lingayats are an influential community whose support could make or break a party. In past Assembly polls, whenever Lingayats, who constitute anywhere between 11 to 19 per cent of the state population, choose a political party, that party normally rides to power. A controversial religious census, however, conducted by the Congress government two years ago and which was expected to be released in the run up to state elections, put the Lingayat population at below 10 per cent.
Who are Lingayats?
Lingayats, who are currently classified as a Hindu subcaste called “Veerashaiva Lingayats”, are often considered to be Shaivites, even though the community evolved from a 12th century movement led by the philosopher-saint Basavanna to help downtrodden sections of Hindu society break the chains of caste and seek the truth themselves.
Research by scholars such as Kalburgi into the vachanas or religious-poetic verses written by Basavanna 800 years ago, produced evidence to show that Lingayats were a religious entity separate from Hindus. With Lingayats getting increasingly subsumed within the Veerashaiva and Hindu nomenclature, and the teachings of Basavanna losing their distinct place in society, however, there was concern in the nearly 3,000 religious monastries of the community — which run hundreds of schools and colleges in Karnataka — that for Lingayatism to survive, it must be identified as a separate religion.
The word Lingayath contains two terms first one is ‘ Linga ‘ + the second one is ‘Aayat.’ It means: one who wears (accept) the Linga . In full form Linga is ಇಷ್ಟಲಿಂಗ . Lingayat is one who is recieves from Guru through at the time of 7-8 months child in his/her mother’s Abdomen concretion (Deekshe) it is not at all separated until death. In general Lingayath means the person who accepts God into his body in the form of Istalinga , there is no meaning in calling Lingayat religion with other unconcerned words. To strengthen the view we can refer a Vachana of Madivala Machideva a contemporary Sharana (person) of Basaveshwara.
Person having Linga is called as a Lingayath, he should not think of all the other subtle. Lingayath religion is derived from the Saiva and its name has been recognized by the Sharanas of 12th century. Readopting the ethic and practices of Shaivism is nothing but foolishness. Madivala Machideva is giving subtle evidence in terms of Vachana.
Who is Lingayata?
As explained by Poojya Mataji in her papers prepared for “Symposium on Indian Religion: held at London, which is altogether printed in her book called “Lingayathism”
- Lingayatha is he who, with a form belief that Lord Basavanna, the proponent of equality of mankind, saviour of humanity and universal teacher is the Primal Guru of Lingayath religion, surrenders to his divine feet, regarding him as one’s sole protector.
- A Lingayata is he who, with implicit faith, looks upon the vachanas of Lord Basavanna, Allamaprabhu, Akka Mahandevi, Siddharameshwara, Chinmaya Gynani Chennabasavanna, Madivala Machayya and other sharanas of basava era, as well as followers of path of basava as the scriptural texts of Lingayath religion, and studies Vachana shastra, recites tha vachanas. and acts accordance with their teachings.
- A Lingayata is he who, hbaing faith with the existence of Almighty God who is the creator, preserver and destroyer of universe of created things – living as well as nonliving, wiht earnestness wears on his body and worships Istalinga , in which spherical shape Lord Basavanna conceived God and presented to humanity.
- He who looks upon “Om Lingaya Namaha” the shadakshari mantra as devine incantation. and “Om Sri Guru Basavalingayanamah” the dwadasakshara as the Guru mantra and recites them with implicit faith and fervor, is a Lingayatha.
Dr NG Mahadevappa, retired Professor of Philosophy at University of Mysore, in his scholarly article “Lingayatism – An Independent Religion”, says: The Lingayats do not observe some of the Hindu rituals as they have their own and these are performed their own priests, Jangamas.
Temple Worship: Hindus worship idols and Lingas established in temples. The Lingayats reject worshipping idols and images in temples, for the specific reason that those who worship the idols of Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, etc. may come to believe that God or Goddess represented by the respective idol resembles the idol, while in fact, no idol represents God perfectly. They are enjoined to worship only ishtalinga, a black, oval shaped, flat based, shining object, which is a symbol of Parashiva or universal consciousness present in every human in the form of soul.
Priest: Normally, the idols and Lingas in temples are worshipped by specially appointed priests, mostly belonging to higher castes. The devotees, including those belonging to higher castes, are prevented from worshipping the idol – they have only to watch the worship and the idol from a distance. The priest in this case is believed to act as a middleman between God and the devotees for which he is revered. Basavanna opposed this and by offering ishtalinga to all those who came to him, insisted that nobody visit temples and if one is desirous of expressing his devotion one must himself worship one’s own ishtalinga and not ask a priest to worship on his behalf, just as one, who is hungry, must eat the food himself rather than asking others to eat on his behalf. Further he insisted that since God is one, it is enough that one worships one’s ishtalinga alone at any time and in any place. The concept of ishtalinga signifies freedom to all men and women to pursue spiritual ends.
Pilgrimage: Hindus believe that pilgrimage brings about religious merit (punya) and, therefore, those who can afford should visit as many holy places as possible, such as Varanasi (Benares), Gaya, Tirupati, Rameshwara, Srishaila, Puri, Kedar, Hardwar, etc. They also believed that a dip in rivers regarded as holy like Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, etc. wipes out their sins and makes them eligible to go to heaven. Lingayats uphold that the human soul is itself God and there is no necessity of worshipping anything other ishtalinga which is a symbol of that soul. Therefore, visiting holy places is as irreligious as rejection of this doctrine. They argue that if a dip in the Ganga makes one eligible to go to heaven, then the fishes, frogs and other marine creatures, which live in the Ganga, have already gone to heaven such that there is no place left for humans.
Lingayat Religion
- Lingayat Dharama is independent religion founded by Prophet Basavanna (1134-1196) of 12th Century. Prior to him since from thousands of years and even until now Shaivas and Veerashaiva’s of Hindu religion worshipped Shiva in the shape of Panvata Linga where as Vaishnavas worship in the form shape Vishnu and his Avataras. As much, Shaktyas and down trodden people worshipped Shakti idols in the temple and its smaller size in the houses, they treated Lingayat form shape Shiva (Shankara) who is one thrimurthies (Braham-Vishnu-Maheshwar)
- Basava who is a messenger of supreme God (Parmatama) like Jesus Christ, Prophet Mahamad, and Gurunanak founded and Introduced Istalinga (Universal shape Linga ) which is a symbolic formless God i.e. Supreme God. Thus new religion exists in 12th Century Called as Lingayat Religion which is quite different from Hindu religion which was prevails in Indian Sub-continent.
- Those who wore Istalinga irrespective of caste, creed or sect were called Lingayats who followed Basava tatva and worship Istalinga , treating it as symbol of Paramatma (Supreme God).
- Idol worship and Vinayaka worship before all important occasions prevails in Veerashaiva practices who follow Agamas But Lingayats worship only their Istalinga for the nivarana of vignas they chant Dharma Guru Basava’s name instead to worshipping Vianayaka deity, Lingayat religion based on Vachana Literature.
- Though evolves from Hindu, Lingayat Dharma is independent like Jain, Buddha and Sikh Dharmas which also evolve from Hindu religion.
- The important aspect is one who wore Staling covered by white colored cloth or putting it in silver of other Petika and wore on their body, and who follows Basava Tatva strictly were called as Lingayats and not the one who was born as Lingayat and who worship Idols.
- Basava’s important sayings are that “the earth on which all will or well is the same, and he water used for rites and other routine purpose is the same”, “All are born out of the same womb, and the soul is the same in all human beings”, “Castes are nothing but occupational groupings”.
- Temple culture exists in Hindus priest perform rituals in temples there is no wrong if priest perform his duty as Kayaka , if he adopts Basava tatva inner. Basava Says body itself is temple. It should try to bring change in youths who are not aware of Basava Dharma and in eradication of evil practices of society. Among Hindus Lingavanta Dharmis only are not idol worshippers. Anybody who follow Basava (Lingayat) dharma strictly and travel step by step of Shatsthala will become Divine man who always lives peacefully and in the end his soul easily unites with the Supreme soul. Hence Basava Dharma is treated as heavenly gift to the mankind.
Myth Behind Lingayat Religion
According to the Lingayat Religion publication:
Lingayathism is started in the 12th century by Guru Basaveshwara; Lingayat has the aim to stop the evil, traditions, to stop bifurcating people by birth, to stop male female inequality, to provide education to people. Lingayat literature explains the clear proper concept of GOD, and provides a way to worship the GOD in the form of Ishtalinga. And rejects all the superstitions beliefs.
In Lingayat all are equal by birth; differentiation is based on the knowledge they possess. This is equivalent of current education system. i.e. any one becomes an officer by scoring good marks not by taking birth in officer’s house.
Anyone can become Lingayat by receiving Ishtalinga by ‘Ishtalinga Deeksha’ (consecrate). In Lingayat Ishtalinga Dharane will be performed when the mother is pregnant (around 7 months of pregnancy). Mother will wear her child’s Ishtalinga with her owns one. Once birth takes place the first ritual will be ‘Lingadharane’ (tying Ishtalinga to baby). Once the child is grown up around 12-15 of ages Ishtalinga Deekhsa (consecrate) will be performed by Deeksha Guru (Guru one who provides Deeksha).
Lingayat is nourished by the council type body called Anubhava Mantapa (which is equivalent to current parliament) The proceedings of the Anubhava Mantapa are recorded in the form of Vachana literature. The members of Anubhava Mantapa are common men who have rich knowledge of spirituality even though they are financially politically poor. And these all are have very high moral, spiritual and crystal clear knowledge of supreme reality & about life.
In traditional Hinduism humans are bifurcated by birth as follows: Brahmins 1st grade, Kshatriyas 2nd grade, Vaiyas 3rd grade, Shudra 4th grade, Asprushya (untouchable) 5th grade. If a person took birth in Asprushya even though he is a brilliant he can not achieve 1st grade or 2nd grade. In this society system Guru Basaveshwara came as light of hope and cleared out this ladder of Varna saying this is human created not GOD made system and started equality in all humans by providing education, explained the concept of GOD in easy and common man’s language.
When education reached the down trodden people they started writing their spiritual experiences, a drummer, wood cutter, cobbler, barber pot maker so on all were became great writers they explained the spirituality in the Vachanas.
In Lingayat Kaayaka (working for survival with divine mind set) is mandatory to each and every individual being. Without Kaayaka nobody has right to live. Guru Basava preached to spend part of the earning from Kaayaka to the poor/society welfare known as Daasooha. It’s a voluntary (not forced) contribution from one’s own earned wealth (not any others or family members wealth).
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