Members of the Lingayat Panchamasali community staged demonstrations during a protest over reservation for their  inclusion in the 2A category of Other Backward Classes (OBC).

About Lingayat

• The Lingayats (officially classified as Hindu sub-caste ‘Veerashaiva Lingayats’) are followers of Basavanna, a 12th century philosopher-saint.
• Lingayat community consists of various sub-castes, with the agriculturalist Panchamasalis being the largest.
  • Panchamasalis make up nearly 70% of the Lingayat population and approximately 14% of Karnataka’s total population.
• The Lingayats are strict monotheists.
• Lingayats believed that there is no rebirth and on death, devotees reunite with Shiva never coming back to the World.

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About Basavana

• He was a Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty
• He was founder of Lingayatism.
• In Kalyana,  Kalachurya king Bijjala (1157-1167, AD) appointed Basaveshwara as a karanika (Accountant) in the initial stage, in his court and later as the Prime minister.
• Main Teachings:
  • His spiritual discipline was based on the principles of Arivu (true knowledge), Achara (right conduct), and Anubhava (divine experience) 
  • Advocates a holistic approach to Lingangayoga (union with the divine).
  • Comprehensive discipline encompasses bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and kriya (action) in a well-balanced manner.
  • He believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for all and preached about manual hard work.
• Founded the Anubhava Mantapa: It was a common forum for all to discuss the prevailing problems of socio, economic and political strata including religious and spiritual principles along with personal problems.
  • It was the first and foremost Parliament of India where Sharanas (citizens of welfare society) sat together and discussed the socialistic principles of a Democratic set up.

Basaveshwara gave two more very important socio-economic principles

• Kayaka (Divine work): Every individual in society should take up the job of his choice and perform it with all sincerity.
• Dasoha (Equal distribution):  Equal income for equal work
  • Worker (Kayakajeevi) may lead his day-to-day life by his hard-earned income, but he should not preserve the money or property for tomorrow. He must utilize the surplus money for society and the poor.

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