Lingayatism

Lingayatism
Hexagonal star and Istalinga on saffron coloured flag.
Basava, 12th-century statesman, philosopher, poet and Lingayat saint
Founder
Basava (1131–1167 CE)
Regions with significant populations
Karnataka15,893,983[note 1][1]
Maharashtra6,742,460[note 2][1]
Telangana1,500,000[note 3][2]
Religions
Hinduism
Scriptures
Vachana sahitya • Karana Hasuge • Basava purana • Shunyasampadane • Mantra Gopya
Languages
Kannada • Marathi[3]
Related ethnic groups
Shiva
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Lingayatism is a monotheistic religious sect of Shaivism within Hindu denomination.[4][5][6][7] Lingayats are also known as liṅgāyataru, liṅgavanta, vīraśaiva, liṅgadhāri.[8] Lingayatism is known for its unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intimate relationship with Parashiva.[9] A radical feature of Lingayatism is its staunch opposition to the caste system and advocacy for social equality, challenging societal norms of the time.[10] Its philosophical tenets are encapsulated in Vachanas, a form of devotional poetry.[11] The tradition also emphasizes Kayaka (work) and Dasoha (service) as forms of worship, underscoring the sanctity of labor and service to others.[12] Unlike mainstream Hinduism, Lingayatism rejects scriptural authority of vedas, puranas,[13] superstition, astrology, vedic priesthood ritualistic practices, and the concept of rebirth, promoting a direct, personal experience of the divine.[9][8]

Lingayatism is generally considered a Hindu sect[14][web 1][note 4] because their beliefs include many Hindu elements.[15][note 5] Worship is centered on Shiva as the universal god in the iconographic form of Ishtalinga.[16][17][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.[17][18] Lingayats celebrate anniversaries (jayanti) of major religious leaders of their sect, as well as Hindu festivals such as Shivaratri and Ganesh Chaturthi.[19][20][21] Lingayatism has its own pilgrimage places, temples, shrines and religious poetry based on Shiva.[22] 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).

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Telangana state has around 15 lakh Lingayat population". 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil (), Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats, p.176
  4. ^ Hastings, James; Selbie, John A. (John Alexander); Gray, Louis H. (Louis Herbert) (1908). Encyclopædia of religion and ethics. Wellcome Library. Edinburgh; New York: T. & T. Clark; C. Scribner's Sons. pp. 68–74.
  5. ^ a b Dalal 2010, p. 208-209.
  6. ^ Schouten 1995, p. 6.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b Hastings, James; Selbie, John A. (John Alexander); Gray, Louis H. (Louis Herbert) (1908). Encyclopædia of religion and ethics. Wellcome Library. Edinburgh; New York: T. & T. Clark; C. Scribner's Sons. pp. 68–74.
  9. ^ a b Ramanujan, A. K. (Ed.) (1973). Speaking of Śiva (Vol. 270). Penguin.
  10. ^ Schouten, J. P. (1995). Revolution of the mystics: On the Social Aspects of Vīraśaivism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
  11. ^ Rice, E. P. (1982). A History of Kannada literature. Asian educational services.
  12. ^ Ishwaran, K. (1981). Bhakti Tradition and Modernization: the case of Lingayatism. In Tradition and Modernity in Bhakti Movements (pp. 72-82). Brill.
  13. ^ Schouten 1995, pp. 52–56.
  14. ^ Levinson & Christensen 2002, p. 475.
  15. ^ Ramanujan 1973, p. 175.
  16. ^ Dalal 2010, p. 208–209.
  17. ^ a b 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.
  18. ^ Gall & Hobby 2009, p. 567–570.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Patil34 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference campbell149 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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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