Lingayat vs Veerashaiva: Followers Rally Over Rift Between Seers

The row between the first woman Lingayat seer, Mate Mahadevi, and the Veerashaiva seer of Rambhapuri led to protests

The Rambhapuri protest.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screen grab)

The separate demand for a Lingayat religion in Karnataka seems to have caused a rift between the community and the Veerashaivas. Various leaders from both ‘sects’ are at loggerheads amid a public spat between the first woman Lingayat seer, Mate Mahadevi, and the Veerashaiva seer of Rambhapuri.

Thousands of followers of the Rambhapuri seer arrived in Hubballi on Tuesday from various districts and shouted slogans of against “those who are trying to break the (Veerashaiva and Ligngayat) unity in the guise of religion”, the Deccan Chronicle reported.

On 30 July, followers of Mate Mahadevi shouted slogans against the Rambhapuri seer asking him to tender an unconditional apology for his “loose remarks” against the woman seer.

The discord which has led to a series of protests began when Mate Mahadevi held a mammoth rally in Bidar and stated that Lingayats and Veerashaivas are different.

Also Read: Can a Separate Religion for Lingayats Save Congress in Karnataka?

‘Veerashaivas and Lingayats are One and the Same’

On Tuesday, followers Rambhapuri’s pontiff raised held booklets of Mate Mahadevi in a 'compromising position' with another seer. They even burnt an effigy of Mate Mahadevi.

The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the state government does not recommend for separate religion status under single banner of Veerashaiva-Lingayat within two weeks.

They said that Veerashaivas and Lingayats are one and the same and that there can be no separation between Veerashaivas and Lingayats like Mate Mahadevi has suggested.

Also Read: In 2017, The Politics of Aspiration Pips The Caste-Religion Divide

Rift in the Name of Veerashaiva and Lingayat

Prakash Bendigeri, a community leader in Hubballi told the media:

Our leaders have duped us by trying to divide the community in the name of Veerashaiva and Lingayat. We will ensure that members of our community will cast their votes only for those candidates who support our stand as per directions of Rambhapuri pontiff. 

“A massive convention will be held in Hubballi after consulting the five Veerashaiva Jagadguru Samsthanas of Kashi, Kedar, Srishaila, Balehonnur and Dwaraka. The Veerashaiva flag will be raised in every household of the community,” he added.

Earlier, supporters of Mate Mahadevi had condemned the Rambhapuri pontiff for indulging in luxuries and burnt an effigy of him sitting on a palanquin.

As the differences between the heads of various mutts have grown, their respective followers have threatened to hold protests across the state.

Also Read: Letter Shows Even BJP Demanded Religious Status for Lingayats

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission)

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