Context: Veerashaiva-Lingayats are demanding a separate religion code for the community in the upcoming National Census that will likely commence in 2026.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Veerashaiva-Lingayats.
Basava & Lingayats
- Basava, a 12th century philosopher and social reformer, was the founder of the Shaivite sect called Lingayats. He was the Prime Minister during the reign of Kalachuri dynasty King Bijjala (I) of the Kalachuri dynasty in the 12th century Karnataka.
- Veerashaivas are a sub-sect of Lingayats and ardent followers of Lord Shiva. They preceded Basavanna, the founder of Lingayatism. Veerashaivism has its roots in the Vedas and Agamas, and they only worship Lord Shiva.
- Basava advocated equality of all human beings, irrespective of caste and that all forms of manual labour are equally important.
- He rejected temple worship and rituals led by Brahmins and replaced it with personalised direct worship of Shiva through practices such as individually worn icons and symbols like a small linga (known as Ishtalinga).
- His poetry was known as Vachanaas and primarily focused on socio-cultural reforms. He rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions, and rituals.
Key concepts in Lingayatism
- Anubhav Mantapa: Considered to be the first parliament in the history of mankind. Proceedings of Anubhav Mantapa are recorded in the form of Vachana Literature.
- Kaayaka (Manual labour): Working for survival with a divine mindset which is mandatory to every individual. Without Kaayaka nobody has the right to live.
- Daasooha (Charity): Part of the earnings from Kaayaka must be spent on the welfare of the poor called Dasooha. It is a voluntary contribution from one’s own earned wealth.
- Sharanas: Sharanas are common followers of Lingayat beliefs.
Political and Social Background: Veerashaiva-Lingayats
- The Veerashaiva Mahasabha in 1940 had passed a resolution seeking a separate religion tag for Veerashaiva-Lingayats and petitioned the then British government.
- Ahead of the 2011 census too, the Veerashaiva Mahasabha had petitioned the Centre seeking the religion code. But after being denied the same, the community members, through a “jana jagruthi jatha” were asked to write “Veerashaiva-Lingayat” in the column meant for “others” instead of identifying as Hindus.
- In 2011, separate codes were assigned to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. There was a separate column for “other religions and persuasions”.
- Veerashaiva-Lingayats are the dominant land-owning community in north and central Karnataka, and seen as politically powerful too. They are a part of backward classes Category in the current OBC classification in the state.
- Their population in Karnataka is about 66.3 lakh or about 11% of the State population. Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is also spread across in neighbouring Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.