Karnataka redux: Caste politics raises head in Telangana ahead of election

Hyderabad: Telangana is seeing a replay of Karnataka caste politics.

The otherwise harmonious and low-profile Veerashaiva Lingayat community is hit by the Veerashaivism vs Lingayat fight leading to mudslinging and entry of various political parties. And it’s borrowed from the Karnataka episode.

The root cause for the fissures in the community is the 'Chalo Hyderabad Lingayat Maha Rally' being organized by Lingayat Samanvaya Samithi, Telangana, from various parts of the state and neighboring Karnataka to Exhibition Grounds at Nampally on June 4.

The rally is promoted by proponents of Lord Basaveshwara who had started Lingayatism in the 12th Century, a modified or rebel version of Veerashaivism that existed for 6000 years.

The projection of Lingayat as a separate entity as was done in Karnataka before polls, has irked Veerashaiva Lingayats. And there is an open war of words between the proponents of both sides.

The rally has a long list of demands including the Telangana government recommending to the Centre provide minority status to Lingayats in the country, the inclusion of Telangana Lingayats in the Centre’s Other Backward Class (OBC) list, installation of the Basaveshwara Statue in the Assembly premises, the naming of the new Parliament building in New Delhi as `Anubhav Mantap’, translation and publication of Basava history and his Vachanas in all languages, setting of Basava Finance Corporation, allotment of land and finance for the establishment of Anubhav Mantap in all villages in Telangana State, sanction of Rudra Bhoomi (graveyards) in all the villages, etc.

Though on the face of it, it looks like a caste conflict, there is a political angle too. Some Veerashaiva Lingayat community leaders are trying for Assembly and Parliament tickets from various parties and using this as a platform, according to insiders.

Open invitation to Congress and BJP leaders has irked the supporters of BRS leaders especially sitting BRS MP from Zaheerabad B B Patil. Incidentally, Patil heads the Telangana Veerashaiva Lingayat Federation (TVLF), an apex body of over 175 Veerashaiva Lingayat associations and sanghams in the State.

BRS leaders in the community are peeved and red-faced at the participation of Congress and BJP leaders in the proposed rally since it could take a political turn at the meet.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has sanctioned Rs 10 crore and one-acre prime land in Kokapet, Ranga Reddy district for the construction of Basava Bhavan. The work on the project has begun.

The government has also provided land to the community in other districts too besides backing OBC status.

But the rally has brought a vertical split in the community, even though many don’t know the difference between Veerashaivas and Lingayats. At present, the community members are called Veerashaiva Lingayats.

Adding fuel to the fire are the WhatsApp messages like “No compromise on ideology…Dharm-Lingayat. Dharma Guru-Mahatma Basavanna!! Chalo Hyderabad 4 June!!

Though BRS MP B B Patil convened a meeting of the community leaders and request them to put off the rally to avoid skirmishes, Basava Dal and other proponents of Lord Basaveshwara did not agree, leaving the community leaders divided.

Since both follow Lord Shiva, they tend to call the community Veerashaiva Lingayat in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other places.

P Rudrama Devi, TVLF Mahila wing President and Arunraj Sherikar, TVLF Youth wing leader and supporter of Veerashaiva Lingayat unity oppose the rally saying it’s a political game plan to divide the community as was done in Karnataka and urge the community to boycott it.

“It is against the Veerashaiva Dharma. We are supporters of Veerashaiva Dharma and our gurus are Panchacharyas. We are against minority status for Lingayat. We are BC D Group in Telangana State and benefitted from Government. It’s a political game plan since the organizers are bringing people from neighboring Maharashtra and Karnataka. Why? These people are trying to create a wedge between Veerashaivas and Lingayats. The rally does more damage than good to the community,” says Arunraj.

But Madappa Itikyala, a supporter of Lord Basaveshwara disagrees. “We are all one. There are no differences.” Sharan of Meerpet wants all parties including MIM, CPI, CPM, etc to be invited since some of the community members are their supporters.

But what is the difference between Veerashaiva and Lingayat?

Veerashaivism which dates back to 6000 years, is a sect within the Shaivism fold of Hinduism started by Panchacharyas or five acharyas: Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishwaradhya. It was first taught by Renukacharya to Agastya, a Vedic seer.

The Veerashaiva is identical to the Brahmanical belief and similar to peethas set up by Adi Shankara.

It is believed Panchacharyas arose out of five great Sthavaralingas located in Kolanupaka in Aler Town, Yadadri District, Telangana, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Kedar in Uttarakhand, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Kashi or Benaras in Uttar Pradesh under different names in different Yugas. The Panchacharyas established five peethas which play an important role in the Veerashaiva sect.

In the 12th century, the groups split and some went with Lord Basaveshwara, during the reign of King Bijala II in Karnataka when Brahmanical Hindu values, a social system based on caste was at its peak. Some say Basava was a reviver of the faith.

Basavanna began Lingayatism in the 12th Century as a reactionary force against Hinduism and Veerashaivaism. He rejected many Hindu traditions and started his concept of Lingayatism. He spread social awareness through his poetry, known as Vachanas, and started Anubhava Mantapa, the hall of spiritual experience in Basava Kalyan, where he welcomed men and women from all communities to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, and public issues, in the open. His followers swelled over the period.

Some differences between Veerashaiva and Lingayat

Veerashaiva sect:

--Founded by Panchacharyas 6000 years ago

--Believes in Vedas Agama, Siddhanta Shikhamani,

--No gender equality,

--Worship Shiva as envisaged in Vedas with a snake around the neck,

--Follows the system of temples and priests.

Lingayat:

--Founded by Basavanna in the 12th Century

--Born: 1131 CE at Bagewadi, Karnataka

--Died: 1196 CEKudalasangama, Karnataka

--Believes in Vanchanas

--Seeks complete equality of men and women in religious, political, and social practices

--Promotes casteless, class-less society

--worship Shiva (Ishta Linga) as a formless, timeless entity that resides in every life form

--bans temple and worship. Worship only Ishta Linga.

--Work is worship

--Make your body the temple of God

In official surveys in the country in the late 1930s, Lingayats were considered part of Veerashaiva, though some assert they are different from Hinduism since it is Gender neutral, caste neutral, and promote equality.

Hindus were divided into castes based on the nature of work, Basavanna reversed the caste into workmanship!