Lingayat mutts hog limelight

HUBBALLI: Mutts and religious places associated with the Lingayat community have gained in prominence this poll season, in the wake of the state government proposing a separate religious status to the community.

Apart from several smaller mutts, Dharwad district has two prominent mutts — Murugha Mutt in Dharwad and Moorusavir Mutt in Hubballi. Both have contributed immensely in improving socio-economic conditions, like promoting universal education, here. People across castes and religions respect seers here.
Majority of the voters in the district belong to the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community. Though the mutt has no political ambitions, parties routinely try to win over them.

Mallikarjun Swamiji of Murgha Mutt was one among several seers who spearheaded the movement for a separate religious status for Lingayats. Moreover, District Minister Vinay Kulkarni has a greater say in the mutt as it is evident from Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the mutt.

As far as Moorusavir Mutt is concerned, it has remained neutral on the Lingayat religion issue as the head of the mutt — Gurusidda Rajayogindra Mahaswamiji — is a disciple of Hangal Kumaraswamiji, who was the real force behind establishing the Veerashaiva Mahasaba decades ago. However, what stand the mutt might take in the election is quite uncertain.