Karnataka: Don't demand religion status Seer to Lingayats

Udupi: Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Adhokshaja Mutt has expressed his concern over the discussion on a separate Lingayat religion and requested Lingayats to drop the proposal.

“The worshippers of Hindu gods are Hindus. Worshipers of Lord Shiva, the Hindu deity, are Hindus. In Hinduism, primacy is for worship of Shiva and Vishnu. In this context, the demand for a separate religion status by the Lingayats is a matter of concern. I request the Lingayats to drop the idea so that Hindu religion is not harmed. When Christians and Muslims are getting organised, there should not be a division among Hindus,” he said.

The seer said that neither Pancha Peetadhipatis nor Virakthi Mutt seers have shown their interest in this proposal. “I do not belong to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat society, But I am suggesting this as a wellwisher,” he said.

The seer stated that in some instances, Basavanna, the Lingayat icon, had agreed to the Vedas and in some places, he had criticized them too. “But hasn’t he worshiped Lord Shiva? Worshipping Shiva means he was a Hindu,” he asserted, adding the struggle to get minority status for Lingayats would not be easy.

“Even if there is is a caste system, there should be harmony among all castes. Among Muslims, there are Shias and Sunnis. There might be differences between Lingayats and Veerashaivas. But they should all unite under Hindu dharma. I have never opposed AHINDA (a coalition of BCs, Dalits and minorities floated by CM Siddaramaiah). I have always respected the backward classes and minorities,” he added.