Seers of all Lingayat traditions share stage at Ekata Samavesh, but confusion continues on ‘religion’ issue (For State page, photos to follow)

For the first time in the recent years, seers of ‘Guru’ and ‘Virakta’ tradition of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community shared a stage at ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat Ekata Samavesh’ here on Friday, to send a message that ‘Veerashaiva’ and ‘Lingayat’ were one and the same. However, the convention failed to take a clear stand on choice of nomenclature during the Socio Economic and Educational Survey scheduled to begin from September 22.

For the first time, a few hundred seers took out a march from Moorusavir Mutt in Hubballi to Nehru Stadium, in an attempt to send the message that they were united. The Panchacharyas of Pancha Peetha who belong to the ‘guru’ tradition, walked with seers of ‘Virakta’ tradition and subsequently gave a call that they should all get united under the banner of “Veerashaiva Lingayat.”

Across parties

Community leaders from both the Congress and the BJP, including Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, Prabhakar Kore, Vijayanand Kashappanavar and others,shared the dais.

However, they differed over the issue of what to mention in the “religion” column during the survey.

Setting the tone for the convention, national vice president of Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha Mr. Khandre emphasised the need for unity, and appealed to the gathering to mention “Veerashaiva Lingayat” as religion in the “Others” column. “In the caste column, you can mention either Lingayat or Veerashaiva. And in the sub-caste column mention your respective sub-caste”, he said.

Sri Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga Mutt and Sri Annadaneshwar Swami of Mundaragi Mutt endorsed the Mahasabha’s stand.

Differring view

However Mr. Shettar and Mr. Bommai (both BJP) raised technical points on mentioning a religion, which had not yet been accorded the status of independent religion by the government. While Mr. Shettar asked the Mahasabha to clear confusion over mentioning ‘Hindu’ in the religion column, Mr. Bommai expressed the same view in a subtle way and said that the Mahasabha’s decision should be as per law.

State president of Mahasabha Shankar Bidari, however, reiterated what Mr. Khadre had said, and Lingayat Panchamasali leader Vijayanand Kashappanavar endorsed the same. Veerashaiva Lingayat leader from Maharashtra Manohar Dhonde emphasised the need for standing with Mahasabha.

Sri Veerasomeshwara Shivachara Swami of Rambhapuri Peetha, who maintained that the views of Renukacharya and Basavanna were no different, however, expressed reservations over mentioning ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat’ in the religion column.

He advised the Mahasabha to consult legal experts. He was of the view that ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat’ should be mentioned in the caste column. Sri Gurusiddha Rajayogindra Swami of Moorusavir Mutt and Fakira Siddarama Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Mutt concurred with the Mahasabha’s stand.

Decision soon

However, no final resolution was passed at the convention, with Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami, who coordinated the convention, announcing that the decision on what to mention during the survey would be taken shortly.