Many Lingayat mathas headed by non-lingayats

HUBBALLI: While a Muslim youth Diwan Sharief, 33, is being coronated as pontiff for Murugharajendra Koraneshwara Shantidhama, a Lingayat matha in Asuti village, Ron taluk, Gadag district, few other instances of non-Lingayats heading Lingayat mathas are available in north Karnataka.
Even Dalits are also heading Lingayat mathas in the last 25 years. Many point out that Ram Vilas Paswan, who challenged Lingayat Swamijis to coronate Dalits as pontiffs, in a national level event held in Bidar in 1996, was instrumental in making Lingayat mathas to appoint Dalits as pontiffs.
Two Muslims were coronated in the 2000s. Siddabasava Kabir Swamiji, whose earlier name was Tipu Sultan, is now heading the matha in Kalaburagi district. Another Swamiji is heading the matha belonging to Siddharoodh school of thought in Haveri district. Both are involved in spreading Basavanna's teachings. However, both denied to comment on their past but expressed to remain as silent Sharana, on the lines of Sharanas, who were part of the Vachana movement that took place in the 12th century.
Guru Mahant Swamiji of Chittaragi Samsthan matha, Ilkal, said that his predecessor late Mahanta Swamiji had taken up a revolutionary step by appointing two Dalits as Swamijis for branch mathas. “One is Siddalinga Swamiji of Vijaya Mahanteshwar matha in Lingasguru and another one is Basavalinga Swamiji of Siddayyanakote Vijaya Mahanteshwar math in Molakalmuru. Siddalinga Swamiji’ was from the Lambani community while Basavalinga Swamiji was from the Madiga community. Mahanta Swamiji gave them Linga Deeksha and trained them many years on Lingayat Sanskar and rituals” he recalled.
He also narrated that his senior Swamiji had coronated his one of disciples as Swamiji for Bhovi Peetha. “Being a Guru, he offered ‘Paada Pooja’ (worshipping at feet) to his student and even had offered ‘Deergha Danda Namaskara’. This is the beauty of Lingayat religion that treats one and all equally,” he added.
Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra matha in Chitradurga, said his matha never asks the caste of its students. “We just consider one’s dedication to Basava’s teachings while appointing him for any of our branch matha. Many students, who were brought up in our hostels, have become pontiffs of different mathas in the state. We have also helped two Muslim persons by giving them Linga Deeksha and Sanskar and assisted them to coronate as pontiffs of other Lingayat mathas” he stated.
Both affirmed that Linga Deeksha, Sanskar is must to become a Swamiji in Lingayat, but not caste or religion.
Murugharajendra Koraneshwar Shivayogi of Koraneshwara Sansthan matha of Khajuri recalled that there was a national level event in Bidar in 1996-1997 in which senior politician Ram Vilas Paswan challenged Lingayat Swamijis to coronate any Dalit person as pontiff for Lingayat matha. “Mahanta Swamiji of Ilkal matha and others immediately assured that they will do it if they get an eligible candidate. Then he trained some Dalit students and incepted two of them as matha” he recalled.
EXPERT VIEW
Ramzan Darga, a scholar on Lingayat religion but a Muslim by birth, observed that Lingayat is simplest and scientific religion in the world. “It accepts everyone as ‘Iva nammava’, (one is ours). If one is taken Linga Deeksha, he is no more Muslim or any. Even Islam, Christian, Buddha, Sikha religions are also flexible to accept anyone who comes accepting that religion. Only Hindu religion has closed doors for all. Even Lingayat religion does not consider the past of any person, who wishes to accept Lingayatism. Basavanna himself has said in a 'vachana’ that whether one is son of servant or king, all are equal to become a Lingayat” he analysed.