It was recently reported that the Union Minister of Home Affairs participated in an event honouring an influential spiritual leader from Karnataka, India. The 115th birthday celebrations of Dr. Shri Shri Shri Shivakumara Swami were held at Siddaganga Mutt, where he had spent a considerable part of his life, in Tumkur, Karnataka.
The Life and Legacy of Shivakumara Swami
Dr. Shivakumara Swami was born on April 1, 1907 in Veerapura village, Ramanagara located within Karnataka. Not a regular theologian, he was known for his expansive philanthropic activities. In his 88 years of service to Siddhaganga Mutt, as an epitome of the Lingayat-Veerashaiva faith, he worked tirelessly to realise the thoughts of Basaveshwara – bringing equality and education and enriching people’s spirituality.
His social work earned him prestigious awards such as the Padma Bhushan in 2015, the third-highest civilian award in India, as well as the Karnataka Ratna in 2007. Further, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Literature degree by Karnataka University in 1965.
Swami Shivakumara was also the founder of the Sri Siddaganga Education Society Trust which runs approximately 125 educational institutions in Karnataka, catering to various levels of learning from primary school to colleges dedicated to arts, science, commerce and engineering. His influence on his followers was so profound that they fondly referred to him as a “walking god”. Swami Shivakumara passed away in 2019.
An Introduction to Lingayats
Lingayats are followers of a 12th-century social reformer and philosopher poet, Basaveshwara. The term Lingayat signifies someone who wears a personal ‘linga’, an iconic form of God Shiva, on their body as part of an initiation ceremony.
Despite being considered as a Hindu subcaste named “Veerashaiva Lingayats”, Lingayats are viewed as strict monotheists, worshipping only one God, Linga (Shiva). However, it is important to clarify that ‘Linga’ here does not refer to the Linga found in temples, but rather to the universal consciousness symbolised by the universal energy (Shakti).
The Distinction between Lingayats and Veerashaivas
Veerashaivas are known for following the Vedas and backing the caste system; characteristics which set them apart from Lingayats because Basaveshwara, whom Lingayats revere, was against these practices. Veerashaivas are followers of five religious centres, known as ‘Pancha Peethas’, which are similar to the four peethas established by Adi Shankara.
Unpacking the Desire for a Separate Religious Identity
The divergence in beliefs causes Lingayats to distance themselves from Hindu Veerashaivas, fueling their quest for recognition as a separate religion.
Understanding Siddhas and Lingayats through Past Examination Questions
The cultural history of medieval India saw groups like the Siddhas of the Tamil region and the Lingayats of the Kannada region challenge prevailing religious norms. These groups’ beliefs and practices were examined in a previous UPSC Civil Services examination question.
Siddhas, for instance, were followers of Shiva and Shakti and condemned idolatry, making them monotheistic. Similarly, Lingayats questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy, underpinning their desire for a distinct religious identity. The UPSC Civil Services examination recognised both these statements as correct. The answers to such questions help us understand more about the diversity and complexity of India’s rich religious landscape.
