The Veerashaiva-Lingayat Identity Crisis: Why Staying Hindu Makes Sense

The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Sunday asked its community members, Veerashaiva-Lingayats, to mark the religion under the "others" column in the Socio Educational Survey-2025 (caste census) to be conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission from 22 September.

The religion column in the survey will have options like Hindu, Islam, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, Atheist, Not Known, Refused to Disclose and Others (specify). Marking their religion under the "others" column will revive the community's demand for a separate religion status.

"There is no relationship between Sanatana Hindu and Veerashaiva-Lingayat religions. Members of our community should enrol as a separate religion which the Mahasabha has been proposing for a long time. In the sub-caste column, you can mention accordingly," said Mahasabha General Secretary Eshwar Khandre, who is also Forest Minister, at a joint press conference.

"Everyone should participate in the Social and Educational Survey and write 'Veerashaiva Lingayat' in the 'Others' column under religion and as 'Lingayat' or 'Veerashaiva' or 'Veerashaiva Lingayat' in the caste column. They should confirm and write the code number of the sub-caste to which they belong in the sub-caste column," he said.

He suggested that the community members should clearly provide the information related to their family to the enumerators.

This latest development reignites a contentious debate that has simmered for decades but reached its most divisive peak during the 2018 Karnataka elections. The question at the heart of this controversy is whether the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community should be recognised as a separate religion or continue its centuries-old integration within the broader Hindu tradition.

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat Community's Deep Hindu Roots

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community's relationship with Hinduism has deep historical roots that demonstrate centuries of integration within the broader Hindu tradition. While some community leaders have periodically sought separate religious recognition dating back to the colonial period, including a conference at Kumbakonam that petitioned the British administration, the mainstream community has consistently maintained its Hindu identity.

Central to understanding this tradition is Basavanna (Basawehwara), the revered twelfth-century saint and social reformer whose progressive vision reformed Hindu society from within. Rather than rejecting Hinduism, Basavanna's revolutionary approach represented a reformation movement that challenged social inequities while remaining firmly rooted in Hindu philosophical traditions. His emphasis on gender equality and opposition to caste discrimination exemplified the reformist potential within Hinduism itself.

The community's religious practices demonstrate clear continuity with Hindu traditions. Their devotion to Lord Shiva, use of traditional Shaivite symbols like the Linga, Rudraksha, and Vibhuti, and celebration of major Hindu festivals including Shivaratri and Ganesh Chaturthi underscore their integral place within the Hindu religious framework. The concept of Ishta Linga, while unique in its expression, aligns with Hinduism's diverse theological traditions that accommodate various forms of devotion and worship.

The Wisdom of Historical Unity

Throughout India's independence movement and nation-building process, the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has played a crucial role as proud Hindus contributing to the country's cultural and political development. The community's production of ten out of Karnataka's twenty-three chief ministers demonstrates their successful integration and leadership within the broader Hindu-majority democratic framework.

Religious scholars and community elders have long emphasised that Basavanna's teachings represent an evolution within Hindu thought rather than a departure from it. The saint's emphasis on formless worship (nirguna nirakar) finds strong parallels in mainstream Hindu philosophical traditions, particularly in Advaita Vedanta and other schools of Hindu thought that emphasise the transcendent nature of the divine.

The organic development of Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions within Hindu society is evidenced by the community's participation in Hindu institutions, interfaith marriages within the broader Hindu community, and shared cultural practices that have flourished for centuries. This integration represents the inclusive nature of Hinduism's capacity to accommodate diverse spiritual paths and social reforms.

The Problematic Political Manipulation of 2018

The 2018 attempt by the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to grant minority religious status to the community represents one of the most divisive political manipulations in Karnataka's recent history. This decision, based on hasty recommendations from the Justice Nagmohan Das Committee, which remarkably completed its assessment in just two months instead of the requested six, was widely perceived as electoral opportunism rather than genuine recognition of religious identity.

The timing of this decision, immediately preceding the state elections, revealed its political motivations. Key political figures, including then-ministers M. B. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, championed this cause despite significant opposition from within the community itself. The central government's previous rejection of similar demands in 2013 had been based on sound constitutional and historical grounds, making the state government's unilateral decision particularly controversial.

This political gambit ultimately backfired, contributing significantly to the Congress party's electoral defeat as the BJP successfully highlighted the divisive nature of the move. The episode demonstrated the dangers of political parties exploiting religious identity for electoral gains, potentially fracturing a community that had maintained relative unity for centuries.

Internal Voices for Unity

Significantly, many respected religious leaders within the community have consistently advocated for maintaining unity both within the community and with the broader Hindu tradition. Dingaleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Mutt has been particularly vocal in asserting that Veerashaiva and Lingayat represent unified identities that should not be artificially separated.

In response to divisive rhetoric, community leaders organised the Veerashaiva Lingayat Ekata Samavesha in Hubballi to address confusion among community members and emphasise the fundamental unity of Veerashaiva and Lingayat traditions. These leaders have expressed concern about attempts to "misuse the name of Basavanna" to create artificial divisions within the community.

The seer emphasised that the traditional position maintained by the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha since its establishment in 1904 should continue, rejecting attempts to establish Lingayatism as an independent religion. Such wisdom recognises that the community's strength lies in unity rather than fragmentation.

The central government's consistent opposition to minority religious status for the community rests on solid constitutional and practical grounds. Historical census records, including the 1871 Mysore state census, have consistently classified Lingayats as part of the Hindu tradition, reflecting centuries of organic integration.

More critically, granting minority status would create severe disadvantages for the most vulnerable sections of the community. Scheduled Caste members within the Lingayat tradition would lose their constitutional protections and reservation benefits, as SC and ST status is constitutionally limited to Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. This would represent a betrayal of Basavanna's inclusive vision and harm those whom the saint sought to uplift.

The reservation complexities are further complicated by the diverse aspirations of different sub-communities. The Panchamasali sub-group's demand for reclassification to Category 2A, led by figures including BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil (Yatnal), demonstrates how separate religious status could fragment existing unity and create new inequities rather than resolving current challenges.

The Failure of Minority Status Promise

The Congress government's promise of minority religious status ultimately proved hollow and potentially harmful. Ironically, after declaring the community a religious minority, the same government refused to provide additional reservation benefits beyond those already available under OBC Category 3B. This decision was widely interpreted as an attempt to appease other communities, particularly Muslim voters, while offering no tangible benefits to the Veerashaiva-Lingayats themselves.

Furthermore, the minority tag would have denied Scheduled Caste followers within the Lingayat tradition their existing constitutional rights, exposing the superficial nature of the political promise. This episode highlighted how political manipulation of religious identity often serves party interests rather than community welfare.

Contemporary Efforts at Reconciliation

Former Chief Minister Bommai's administration attempted to address community concerns through administrative reforms rather than religious separation. In January 2023, his government restructured the OBC categories, eliminating Category 3 and creating new categories 2C and 2D to enhance reservation benefits for both Lingayats and Vokkaligas. This approach, drawing from unused quotas under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation, demonstrated how community aspirations could be addressed within existing constitutional frameworks.

While former Chief Minister Bommai faced criticism from some sections, particularly the Panchamasalis, for not fully meeting their demands, his approach represented a more constructive path than religious separation. The political tensions that arose, including threats from the head seer of Kudala Sangama Matha, Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami, reflected the complexity of balancing diverse community interests within democratic processes.

The Strength of Hindu Pluralism

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat tradition exemplifies Hinduism's remarkable capacity for internal reform and spiritual diversity. Rather than requiring separation from Hinduism, Basavanna's teachings demonstrate how transformative social change can occur within Hindu philosophical frameworks. The saint's rejection of caste discrimination and advocacy for gender equality represented progressive Hinduism at its finest.

Contemporary Hindu society continues to benefit from this reformist tradition. The community's emphasis on equality, social justice, and spiritual devotion enriches the broader Hindu tradition while maintaining cultural continuity. This organic development within Hinduism contrasts sharply with artificial attempts to create separate religious identities for political purposes.

Population Dynamics and Political Integration

The 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey's finding that Veerashaiva-Lingayats comprise approximately 11 per cent of Karnataka's population (about 66.35 lakh people) represents a significant demographic group whose interests are best served through continued integration within India's democratic framework. While community leaders dispute these figures, claiming higher percentages, their political influence, demonstrated through leadership positions and electoral success, shows effective representation within existing systems.

The community's traditional support for the BJP, particularly under B. S. Yediyurappa's leadership, reflects successful political integration within India's democratic framework. While recent challenges under former Chief Minister Bommai created some tensions, these represent normal democratic processes rather than fundamental incompatibilities requiring religious separation.

The Path Forward: Unity and Integration

As the community approaches the 2025 survey, the choice between unity and division becomes increasingly critical. While the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha continues to prepare petitions for separate religious recognition, growing voices within the community advocate for focusing on substantive issues like education, economic development, and effective political representation rather than symbolic religious separation.

The community's strength across multiple states, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, represents an asset best leveraged through continued integration within India's federal democratic framework. Rather than seeking separate religious status, the community can achieve its aspirations through effective political organisation, social reform, and economic advancement within existing constitutional structures.

Conclusion: Embracing Basavanna's True Legacy

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community stands at a crossroads between artificial division and organic unity. Basavanna's true legacy lies not in separation from Hindu society but in its transformation from within. His vision of equality, justice, and spiritual devotion continues to inspire progressive movements within Hinduism while maintaining cultural continuity and social cohesion.

Rather than pursuing divisive religious separation that could fragment the community and harm its most vulnerable members, the path forward lies in embracing the inclusive vision that has defined the tradition for centuries. The community's future prosperity depends on unity, both internal unity among Veerashaiva and Lingayat traditions and continued integration within India's diverse Hindu society.

The 2025 survey represents an opportunity not for separation but for celebrating the community's contributions to India's cultural richness within the framework of Hindu pluralism. This approach honours Basavanna's reformist legacy while ensuring that future generations benefit from both their unique traditions and their integral place in India's broader Hindu civilisation.