Various organisations celebrate Basava Sanskruti Abhiyan in Bagalkot

Various Lingayat organisations came together to celebrate Basava Sanskruti Abhiyan in Bagalkot on Wednesday.

Seers and community leaders who addressed the event urged community members to record their religion as Lingayat in the State-wide socio-economic and educational survey.

Sri Tontad Siddarama Swami gave a call for unity to fight for Lingayat being recognised as an independent religion. He said that the Abhiyan leaders will participate in an open dialogue with the community members to clear doubts in the minds of the general public.

He said that the community should not be swayed by temporary benefits but instead, focus on getting recognition as an independent religion.

Taking questions from the audience, he said that he has nothing against those who identify themselves as Veerashaiva. “My only appeal to them is that they record their religion as Lingayat and their caste as Veerashaiva,” he said.

He told a farmer that the whole point behind the cultural movement is to create awareness among the ruling classes and common people that Lingayat is an independent religion.

“But it is better if we do not record our sub-castes,” the seer said.

“When all of us do that, we will get recognition as an independent religion. It will also help in getting other government facilities in the future,” he said.

When a student asked him if it was right for seers to ask for election ticket from leaders of their respective communities, he said that it is wrong.

“A swami of a community should desist from politics,” he said.

A woman raised the question of continued discrimination faced by widows. Sri Prabhuswami of Charantimath said that he is involved in efforts to ensure widow welfare and remarriage in Saundatti, Bagalkot and other places.

A girl student asked about social evils like caste discrimination. The seer said that it is against the principles of Basavanna. “If self-respecting devotees stop going to such temples, they will close down,” he said.

Sri Basavalinga Pattaddevaru of Bhalki said that Basavanna advocated gender equality and that all seers and devotees are expected to follow it. He said that several female heads of religious maths are invited to speak at the event.

Sri Guru Mahant Swamiji of Ilakalli spoke of the scientific aspects of performing Ishtalinga Puja and its benefits. He said that the Mahant Jolige programme that appeals to people to come out of addiction is going on continuously. He said that other swamis have also adopted this.

Several seers and leaders were present. A procession was taken out in the city earlier.