Lingayat religion exists outside Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma, scholars reiterate
At a Vachana discussion programme held on Thursday, September 18, at Udupi Town Hall, religious leaders of the Lingayat community reiterated that Lingayat is not a sect within Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma but an independent religion in its own right.
The event was organized under the ‘Basava Samskruti Abhiyan’ initiative by the Lingayat Mathadhipati Union, aimed at engaging both college students and the wider public.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Basavalinga Pattadevaru of Bhalki Hiremath Sansthan emphasized that the Lingayat faith was born as a response to the rigid caste and varna hierarchies that existed in society. He said, “The Lingayat religion is not a fragment of Sanatana Dharma. It is a faith that arose in opposition to caste-based and varna-based discrimination. Lingayat religion is neither Hindu nor Sanatana Dharma; it stands as an independent religion.”
Clarifying further, he added, “Lingayat is not a caste identity—it is a complete religion. Religion and caste are two different things. Caste is comparable to darkness, while religion is like light. To eliminate the darkness of caste, we require the illumination of religion.”
Shivananda Swamiji of Handigunda Math also called for constitutional recognition of Lingayat religion, drawing parallels with other minority religions. He stated, “Just as Sikhism, Jainism, and other minority religions enjoy constitutional recognition, we too are entitled to the same. This is not a form of protest—it is our right. Lingayat is neither Hinduism nor Sanatana Dharma. It is an independent religion. Basavanna is our religious teacher, Vachana literature is our scripture, and the Basava Dharma or Lingayat Dharma given by Basavanna does not belong to any other religious tradition.”
This comes a day earlier the BJP Karnataka passed a resolution stressing that all members must take part in the caste survey conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, and mention ‘Hindu’ under the column for religion and their caste under the appropriate column.
The BJP has been accusing the Congress government in Karnataka of attempting to “divide Hindus,” pointing out that the survey form includes an “others” option under religion, a move the party claims could encourage communities like the Lingayats to identify separately.
