Lingayatism

Lingayatism
Veerashaiva
	Basava, 12th-century statesman, philosopher, poet and Lingayat saint
Founder
	Basava (1131–1167 CE)
Regions with significant populations
Karnataka	15,893,983
Maharashtra	6,742,460
Telangana	1,500,000
Religions
	Hinduism (Shaivism)
Scriptures
	Vachana sahitya • Karana Hasuge • Basava purana • Shunyasampadane • Mantra Gopya • Siddhanta Shikhamani
Languages
	Kannada • Marathi
Related ethnic groups
	Kannadigas • Marathi

Lingayatism is a Hindu denomination based on Shaivism.^[4]^[5]^[6]^{[web 1]} Initially known as Veerashaivas, since the 12th-century adherents of this faith are known as Lingayats.

Lingayatism is known for its unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intimate relationship with Shiva.^[7] A radical feature of Lingayatism is its staunch opposition to the caste system and advocacy for social equality, challenging societal norms of the time.^[8] Its philosophical tenets are encapsulated in Vachanas, a form of devotional poetry.^[9] The tradition also emphasizes Kayaka (work) and Dasoha (service) as forms of worship, underscoring the sanctity of labor and service to others.^[10] Unlike mainstream Hinduism, Lingayatism rejects scriptural authority of vedas and puranas,^[11] ritualistic practices, and the concept of rebirth, promoting a direct, personal experience of the divine.^[12]

Lingayatism is generally considered a Hindu sect^[13]^{[web 1]}^{[note 4]} because their beliefs include many Hindu elements.^[14]^{[note 5]} Worship is centered on Shiva as the universal god in the iconographic form of Ishtalinga.^[15]^[6]^{[note 6]} Lingayatism emphasizes qualified monism, with philosophical foundations similar to those of the 11th–12th-century South Indian philosopher Ramanuja.^{[web 1]}

Contemporary Lingayatism is influential in South India, especially in the state of Karnataka.^[6]^[16] Lingayats celebrate anniversaries (jayanti) of major religious leaders of their sect, as well as Hindu festivals such as Shivaratri and Ganesh Chaturthi.^[17]^[18]^[19] Lingayatism has its own pilgrimage places, temples, shrines and religious poetry based on Shiva.^[20] Today, Lingayats, along with Shaiva Siddhanta followers, Naths, Pashupatas, Kapalikas and others constitute the Shaivite population.^{[web 2]}^{[note 7]}

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

^ ^a ^b "CM Devendra Fadnavis to get demand for Lingayat quota examined by state panel". The Times of India. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
^ "Telangana state has around 15 lakh Lingayat population". 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil (), Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats, p.176
^ ^a ^b Dalal 2010, p. 208-209.
^ Schouten 1995, p. 6.
^ ^a ^b ^c Fisher, Elaine M. (August 2019). Copp, Paul; Wedemeyer, Christian K. (eds.). "The Tangled Roots of Vīraśaivism: On the Vīramāheśvara Textual Culture of Srisailam". History of Religions. 59 (1). University of Chicago Press for the University of Chicago Divinity School: 1–37. doi:10.1086/703521. ISSN 0018-2710. JSTOR 00182710. LCCN 64001081. OCLC 299661763. S2CID 202376600.
^ Ramanujan, A. K. (Ed.). (1973). Speaking of Śiva (Vol. 270). Penguin.
^ Schouten, J. P. (1995). Revolution of the mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
^ Rice, E. P. (1982). a History of Kannada literature. Asian educational services.
^ Ishwaran, K. (1981). Bhakti Tradition and Modernization: the case of Lingayatism. In Tradition and Modernity in Bhakti Movements (pp. 72-82). Brill.
^ Schouten 1995, pp. 52–56.
^ Ramanujan, A. K. (Ed.). (1973). Speaking of Śiva (Vol. 270). Penguin.
^ Levinson & Christensen 2002, p. 475.
^ Ramanujan 1973, p. 175.
^ Dalal 2010, p. 208–209.
^ Gall & Hobby 2009, p. 567–570.
^ Cite error: The named reference Patil34 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference campbell149 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Srinivas, M.N. (1995). Social Change in Modern India. Orient Blackswan. pp. 157–158. ISBN 978-81-250-0422-6. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
^ Wolf, Herbert C. (1978). "The Linga as Center: A Study in Religious Phenomenology". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. XLVI (3). Oxford University Press: 369–388. doi:10.1093/jaarel/xlvi.3.369.

Cite error: There are <ref group=web> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=web}} template (see the help page).

[The_Times_of_India-2] "CM Devendra Fadnavis to get demand for Lingayat quota examined by state panel". The Times of India. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.

[5] "Telangana state has around 15 lakh Lingayat population". 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

[Patil-6] Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil (), Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats, p.176

[FOOTNOTEDalal2010208-209-7] Dalal 2010, p. 208-209.

[FOOTNOTESchouten19956-8] Schouten 1995, p. 6.

[HR-9] Fisher, Elaine M. (August 2019). Copp, Paul; Wedemeyer, Christian K. (eds.). "The Tangled Roots of Vīraśaivism: On the Vīramāheśvara Textual Culture of Srisailam". History of Religions. 59 (1). University of Chicago Press for the University of Chicago Divinity School: 1–37. doi:10.1086/703521. ISSN 0018-2710. JSTOR 00182710. LCCN 64001081. OCLC 299661763. S2CID 202376600.

[11] Ramanujan, A. K. (Ed.). (1973). Speaking of Śiva (Vol. 270). Penguin.

[12] Schouten, J. P. (1995). Revolution of the mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

[13] Rice, E. P. (1982). a History of Kannada literature. Asian educational services.

[14] Ishwaran, K. (1981). Bhakti Tradition and Modernization: the case of Lingayatism. In Tradition and Modernity in Bhakti Movements (pp. 72-82). Brill.

[FOOTNOTESchouten199552–56-15] Schouten 1995, pp. 52–56.

[16] Ramanujan, A. K. (Ed.). (1973). Speaking of Śiva (Vol. 270). Penguin.

[FOOTNOTELevinsonChristensen2002475-17] Levinson & Christensen 2002, p. 475.

[FOOTNOTERamanujan1973175-19] Ramanujan 1973, p. 175.

[FOOTNOTEDalal2010208–209-21] Dalal 2010, p. 208–209.

[FOOTNOTEGallHobby2009567–570-23] Gall & Hobby 2009, p. 567–570.

[Patil34-24] Cite error: The named reference Patil34 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[campbell149-25] Cite error: The named reference campbell149 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Srinivas1995p158-26] Srinivas, M.N. (1995). Social Change in Modern India. Orient Blackswan. pp. 157–158. ISBN 978-81-250-0422-6. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2018.

[27] Wolf, Herbert C. (1978). "The Linga as Center: A Study in Religious Phenomenology". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. XLVI (3). Oxford University Press: 369–388. doi:10.1093/jaarel/xlvi.3.369.

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