Those arguing in favour of Lingayat as separate religion hold Lingayathism as a monotheistic practice that does not believe in forms of God but only worships the omniscient God.
Karnataka Assembly Election is due in next two months. The political parties have started steering the caste-religion dynamics in the state. While the Vokkaliga community commands maximum vote share in the state, Lingayat community is approximately 20% of the entire population which makes it the most important community to tap on during elections.
The Lingayat community for long has been considered similar to Hinduism. If we trace the social engineering employed by the politicians in the past, it is evident that they never treated Lingayat or Hinduism as separate elements. The fact that Lingayat community has in fact been confused with Veershaiva sect in Hinduism plays a big role in how the state politics interpreted it and formed strategies. But will those strategies work anymore?
Almost six months back, in Karnataka’s Bidar as much as 50,000 people from Lingayat community turned up to demand a separate religious status. Since then, the number of people supporting the cause has been increased. People across party lines are supporting this demand. While Congress has shown an open support to the separate religion demand of the community, JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti has been at the forefront of the Lingayat movement.
Origin of Lingayat:
Basaveshwara, a 12th-century reformist, poet, and statesman is credited with laying a foundation stone of Lingayatism. Basaveshwara also was known as Basava was born in a Hindu Brahmin family when the Kalachuri-dynasty King Bijjala 1 was reigning in Karnataka. Basaveshwara advocated devotional practices of worshipping rather than the traditional rituals like going to temple and idol worshipping. He stressed more on the idea of ‘Ishta Lingaa’ which implied worshipping Shiva on an individual basis by wearing symbols like a small linga.
A person following Lingayathism must follow vachanas of Basaveshwara. It is believed that Lingayatism has in 12th century argued the most progressive and modern values such as gender and social equality. Basaveshwara even opposed the discriminatory practice of wearing sacred thread by the upper caste Brahmins and instead advocated the ritual of wearing Ishtalinga necklace, with an image of the Shiva Liṅga, by every person regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant reminder of one’s bhakti to god Shiva.
How is Lingayatism is different from Hinduism?
The major reason why some Lingayat community members argue that it is different from that of Hinduism, is the Gender-neutral, caste-neutral treatment of equality. Basavanna’s reformist Bhakti movement rejected the caste system which is considered one of the integrated practice of Hinduism. In one of his vachanas, Basavanna asserts that “the birthless has no caste distinctions, no ritual pollution.”
While Hinduism converted workmanship into castes, Basava reversed the castes into workmanship again. The Society differentiated people based on birth while Basava offered equal status to all.
He rejected the Hindu Brahmanical ritualism and its adherence to sacred texts like the Vedas.
As per the Sastras Agamas, The Basava says the following:
Which means:
I shall sheathe the Vedas, fetter the Sastras,
Put Tarka in tongs, deface the Agamas.
Look, father, most generous Kudalasangamadeva,
I am a son of Madara Chennayy’s family.
As this Quora answer points out, those who argue in favour of Lingayat as separate religion hold Lingayathism as a monotheistic practice that does not believe in forms of God but only worships the omniscient God. It also rejects practices such as Homa, Yagna, Sacrifice and does not consider any place or any river as holy.
How will the Lingayat movement impact Karnataka election?
The observers of Karnataka elections are familiar that the caste-politico dynamics is deep-rooted in the state. The Lingayat movement goes far beyond the religious and social construct. One might be too imprudent to believe that the demand for separate religion has got to do with gaining recognition for the religious identity.
In Karnataka alone, Lingayat community covers 17% of its total population. Here, Lingayat is one of the dominant community when it comes to voting share. The demand for separate religious status is only motivated by the benefits that come with having a minority status. Reservation being one of them.
The BJP has a Lingayat heavyweight leader B. S. Yeddyurappa heading party’s chariot in Karnataka. He is also the CM face of the party. However, the party’s main ideology being Hindutva, it has never supported or will never support the movement. Even Yeddyurappa himself distanced himself from the movement.
On the other hand, Congress has decided to take the risk of supporting the separate religion status to Lingayat community. Traditionally, Lingayats have kept a distance from Congress; so it may seem that supporting the demand may attract a vote bank. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah even told the community that Congress is ready to represent their concern to the central government. The prompt reaction might seem a blow to BJP, but it can turn out to be a backlash instead. According to some of those in the party, the move by the Siddaramaiah is like “playing with the fire”.
Now whether the Lingayat community vote falls in Congress’ favour and fit the election vote share math or help BJP to further help BJP to consolidate the Hindu votes, is to be seen in Karnataka elections.
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