Welcome to Lingayat Religion

Lingayat Religion: The symbol of Progress, Prosperity & Eternal Peace Enshrining in Action, Equality, Fraternity Morality & Knowledge In Consonance as a WAY OF LIFE!

Below content courtesy: http://www.lingayathism.net
India is a great womb for many religions born in India and as well a great cradle for many religions born outside India. Among many religions born in India, Lingayathism founded by Lord Basaveswara in 12th century is a very progressive, rational

independent religion. Lingayat religion has struggled hard to establish an ideal Welfare state (Kalyana Rajya) launching a crusade against casteism, superstitions, inequality, untouchability and exploitation which were going on in the name of religion. Lingayat religion preached Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Humanity uplifting the down trodden, upholding the principles of equal rights for women, fraternity and social justice.

Lingayat religion embraced people from all castes and all occupations from Brahmin to Bhangi through religious consecration- Istalinga Diksha.

Lingayathism does not believe in caste system. It is an independent and perfect religion established by Lord Basavanna during 12th century.

Lingayathism is a very progressive and non-Vedic, a non-Hindu religion with its own special characteristics as detailed below.

Prophet founder	Lord Basavanna (1134-1196)
Religious scriptures	Vachana Literature
Language of the religion	Kannada
Name of God, the Creator	Ishtalinga , Linga , Lingadeva
Religious symbol	A globular shaped emblem called Istalinga that is worn on body
Holy religious place	Kudala Sangama in Bagalakot district of Karnataka, where founder-prophet Basavanna merged with God (Lingaikya)
Religious annual congregation	Sharana Mela -the annual mammoth congregation (Just like Huz of Muslims) at Kudala Sangama. (January 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15)
Religious custom	Sharana Vrata
Religious consecration	Istalinga Diksha
Religious centre	Basava (Anubhava) Mantapa
Rites and rituals	Worship of Guru-Basavanna, Istalinga-globular Emblem, Jangama- holy person.
Religious weekly congregation	Sharana Sangama-weekly prayer
Holy month	Shravana
Flag symbol	Hexagonal star with Istalinga on Saffron coloured cloth.
Heritage	Sharana heritage started from Lord Basavanna with so many Sharanas and Jangama Yogis of Lingayat Religion.
Religious fraternity	Equality without any distinction of caste, creed, class or sex.
Aim of Lingayat religion	To build up a welfare state free from caste, creed, class and based on religious values.

Lingayat religion founded by Lord Basavanna and followed by one lakh ninety six thousand Sharanas at His life time is a non-Hindu, non-Vedic Faith for the following reasons.

• Lingayathism has Lord Basavanna as its founder-prophet.
• Lingayathism is not based on the preachings of Vedas, Agamas, Bhagawadgita, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagawata, Puranas, etc. but based on Vachana literature which opposed four-fold caste system, untouchability, polytheism, inequality and preached equality, monotheism etc. and is the authoritative source of knowledge for Lingayats.
• Lingayat religion totally rejects Homa, Yajna and Sacrifice and opposes such rituals.
• Lingayathism is strictly monotheistic. Basavanna preached consistent monotheism which preaches belief in one only God who is all pervading, omnipotent, omniscient etc. He insisted to worship the only God in the form of globular Istalinga and nothing else.
• Lingayathism does not consider any such places on earth as holy and any river or pond as sacred and mere dip in water will absolve all sins.
• Lingayathism rejects these 5 pollutions. Pollution of birth, death, caste, menstruation and orts.
• Lingayathism does not believe in astrology, Vastushilpa, horoscope etc.