Lingayatism: A Religion With Human Considerations

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Lingayatism was essentially an anti-brahmin revolution that was started by Basavanna from Northern Karnataka. Basavanna was a brahmin by birth, but he disapproved Vedas, and Brahmanic rituals. He went on to create a cult that reinforced his ideals and grew gradually to be an equal and opposing force to Brahmanism and refused any concept or principle that transgressed the rules of humanity.

Basavanna visualised an ideal society to be free of inequality, irrationality, and believed that it was only freedom, fraternity, equality of men, and rational thinking that constituted a perfect society. He visualised a world without disorder and anarchy of religion and aimed at establishing a society that was casteless without a trace of discrimination.

Who Are Veerashaivas?
Veerashaivas are worshippers of Lord Shiva and do not worship any other god. The Veerashaivas existed before the times of Basavanna. Pashupatha Shaiva, Soma Shaiva, Dakshina Shaiva, Kala Mukha Shaiva, are some of the Shaivaite sects. Veerashaivas who belong to this category, are found in large numbers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Nonvegetarian shaivas consider themselves as kshatriya Shaiva and Vegetarian shaivas call themselves Brahmana Shaiva. All sects of the Veerashaiva are followers of 'Pancha Peeta', which include Kashi mutt, Rameshwaram Mutt, Ujjaini Mutt, Rambhapura Mutt and Srishaila Mutt. These are held very sacred by Veerashaiva community.

How Are Veerashaivas Different From Lingayats?
Veerashaivas belong to a school of thought that is predominantly Hindu, But Lingayats trace their origin back to the Basavanna times whereas Veerashaivas believe that they originated from the Lingam.

While Lingayats worship the Ishta linga, and do not believe in the saguna rupa or Shiva with form. For them Shiva is formless and resides inside the lingam which is tied to a thread and worn on their bodies. Veerashaivas staunchly believe that Shiva is a vedic God. Lingayats, instead of Vedas, believe in Vachanas of Basavanna. Veerashaivas and Hindus are essentially different although they belong to the same ancestry.

What Is Common Between Hinduism And Lingayatism?
Lingayats celebrate anniversaries of major religious leaders as well Shivaratri and Ganesh Chaturthi. They have their own pilgrimage places, temples, shrines and religious poetry which is totally about Shiva.

Is There Anything Common Between Lingayatism And Shrivaishnavism?
Lingayatism staunchly believes in the existence of one God and supports doctrines that are very similar to the ones preached by Ramanuja who lived in the 12th century. Both proclaimed that work is worship and broke the caste barriers by arranging inter caste dining. Both schools of philosophy oppose the idea of discrimination by gender or birth.

How Are Lingayats Different From The Hindus?
Basava-purana, one of the sacred texts of the Hindu Lingayat sect is centred around Basavanna. The Lingayats oppose child marriage, feasts, fasts, visiting pilgrimages and performing sacrifices. In fact they are in support of widow remarriage. Lingayat religious ideology supports the idea of individuality, equality and fellowship and rejects all sorts of inequalities, be it gender or class. They are not the only ones to do this as followers of Sri Ramakrishna Mission and Arya Samaj and many other Vaishnavaite and Shaivaite traditions too are in the same league of people who disapprove of caste system.

How Many Types Of Lingayats Can You Find?
Lingayatism has grown into global proportions and now there are 99 sub-sects within the Lingayats, Prominent subsects inside the Lingayat circle are Panchamasalis, Ganiga, Jangama, Banajiga, Reddi Lingayat, Sadars, Nonaba and Goud-Lingayats.

Are Lingayats Vegetarian?
Fiercely vegetarian communities after Brahmins are probably Lingayats and Jains. They are far away from meat eating and look down upon this practice as they feel this is a barbaric.. It is for this reason that Brahmins these days, are marrying Lingayats as they have certain things in common, like vegetarianism. The religious heads of Brahmins also seem to have given their approval to this practice.

Do They Bury Their Dead? Why?
They bury their dead because they believe that once a person leaves his mortal coil, he reaches Lord Shiva and there is no rebirth for him. When Lord Shiva occupies your body and every part of it, you do not need to burn the body of the dead. Instead they make a tomb and erect a shivling on it..

Do They Believe In Hindu Concepts Like Reincarnation?
They do not. They do not endorse varnashrama dharma, based on which the castes and creeds have been created. Founded by Basava who called his followers as sharanas, the lingayatism challenged Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Purana, Upanishads, and place no belief or faith in 33 crore Hindu gods and do not respect brahmins. Lingayats disagree with the idea of miracles and anything that is supernatural in nature. They are against idol worship and do not accept Hindu Gods.

Do Lingayats Believe In Temple Worship?
Lingayatism does not believe in worshipping in temples as they believe body is the temple in which Lord Shiva lives. They feel that Shiva is formless, Nirguna, and does not live in temples. They do not follow any Hindu ritual.

Does Lingayatism Endorse Equality?
Everyone in the community is equal and considered to be a Lingayat. Instead of temples, there are discussion areas where priestly activities are allowed. Lingayatism allows women to perform priestly activities. According to Lingayatism, men and women are born equal. Women have rights to worship and preach religious tenets to anyone. As early as 12th century, men and women used to gather in Anubhava Mantapa to discuss religion and other concepts freely.

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