Scholars reiterate Lingayat religion exists outside Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma
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At a Vachana discussion programme held on September 18 at Udupi Town Hall, leaders of the Lingayat community reiterated their position that Lingayats should be recognised as a distinct religion rather than a sect within Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma.
The event, organised by the Lingayat Mathadhipati Union under the Basava Samskruti Abhiyan initiative, sought to engage both students and the broader public.
Speaking at the gathering, Dr Basavalinga Pattadevaru of Bhalki Hiremath Sansthan stressed that the Lingayat faith emerged in response to entrenched caste and varna hierarchies in society. He maintained that it was not a branch of Sanatana Dharma but a separate religion in its own right, founded on opposition to caste-based discrimination, Maktoob Media reported
During the programme, Dr Basavalinga clarified that Lingayat should not be seen as a caste identity but as a complete religion. He explained that caste and religion were fundamentally different, likening caste to darkness and religion to light, and argued that the way to dispel caste-based divisions was through the guiding force of religion.
Shivananda Swamiji of Handigunda Math also urged that the Lingayat faith be granted constitutional recognition, drawing comparisons with Sikhism, Jainism, and other minority religions. He stressed that such recognition was not a demand of protest but a rightful claim.
According to him, Lingayatism was neither Hinduism nor Sanatana Dharma but an independent religion, with Basavanna as its spiritual teacher, Vachana literature as its scripture, and Basava Dharma as its foundation—separate from any other religious tradition.
The discussion came a day after the BJP’s Karnataka unit passed a resolution requiring its members to fully participate in the caste survey conducted by the State Backwards Classes Commission, specifically directing them to declare ‘Hindu’ under the religion column and their caste under the respective section.
The BJP has accused the ruling Congress of trying to create rifts among Hindus by including an “others” option under the religion category in the survey form, a move the party believes could encourage communities like the Lingayats to mark themselves as separate.