Gauri Lankesh, Senior Journalist from Bengaluru, who recently was into news for being shot dead in her house by unknown assailants. The entire journalist fraternity has come in support of Gauri, describing her killing as undemocratic and killing of freedom of speech.
Gauri was known atheist. But she never disturbed those who had beliefs and in fact respected them for their convictions. She seemed to have the belief that religion is way of life and it was tool for better living.
Taking forward this belief, Gauri Lankesh made a comment in social media that went viral. She made Facebook post:
Veerashaiva and Lingayat are different. Veerashaivas are part of the Shaiva, Vaishnava tradition of `Hindu’ (Brahminical) religion. Lingayat is a religion which protested against the Shaiva, Vaishnava traditions of the Brahminical `Hindu’ religion and emerged as a new religion. Lingayat religion, inspired by not just Basavanna, but all the vachanakaras of the 12th century, is a separate religion which has no connection with Brahminical Hinduism or its off=shoots like Veerashaivas. These are the differences between Brahminical Hinduism/ Veerashavism and Lingayat dharma as I understand it:
1. Lingayat dharma does not believe in temples. Basavanna said in one of his famous vachanas that the body is the temple and the soul (conscience) is god. (Hence, for Lingayats to support a temple in the name of Rama (who is supposedly an avatar of Brahminical Hindu dharma Vishnu= Vaishnava) is against Lingayat dharma. Anyone who supports the RSS/BJP/ other Sangh inspired Ram Mandir movement is going against the tenets of Basavanna and Lingayat dharma.
2. Lingayat dharma does not believe in idol worship. Lingayat dharma only supports the worship of the `Ishta Linga’ , which is a representation of inner conscience and social responsibility (It does not represent any god. It most certainly not represent Shiva. Let me remind everyone here, Basavanna only said `Koodalasangama deva’ which leaves itself open to innumerable interpretations, but MOST definately not as an invocation for Shiva- a Brahminical idol). So, anyone who worships idols is betraying the cause of Basavanna and the Lingayat dharma.
3. Basavanna had opposed fire worship such as homas and havanas. Which means that any Lingayat who performs homas and havanas is anti Lingayat dharma. (Yeddyurappa has performed many homas and havanas. Hence, he is not really a Lingayat: he does not follow the tenets of Lingayat dharma. In fact, Yeddyurappa is anti Lingayat dharma.
4. Lingayats are not fire worshipers. They do not believe – as Brahminical castes and Veerashaivas do- that fire purifies. That is why in Lingayat marriage and death ceremonies, fire does not find a place. One more point: Lingayats are perhaps the only `supposed Hindus’ who still bury their dead. Because Lingayat dharma believes in its followers becoming part of the earth that gave birth to them and sustained them in their lives so that by becoming part of the earth they shall sustain new life: like being manure to new crops which will feed the next generation. Lingayat dharma does not believe in burning its dead. Those who burn their dead are only polluting our lakes and rivers. Lingayat dharma which opposes such pullution is environmentally friendly.
5: Lingayat dharma stands for equality. It does not discriminate against class or caste. It is the most egalitarian religion to have been born in the 12th century in this country.
6: MOST importantly, am I saying all this since i happen to have been born accidently without having a choice into a Lingayat family? Honest confession: Until I joined college I did not even know which caste I belonged to. That is the kind of a-religious/irreligious growing up that i had. I was raised as a secular person. Of that I am extremely proud.
7: As a secular person, I find many things in the Lingayat dharma which are similar to my thinking. And that is what prompted me to say so many things here.
8: Do I believe that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are different? Of course.
9. Am I a Lingayat? Do I identify myself as a Lingayat?……….. No way… I respect Basavanna and the Sharanas, but I do not want to constrict myself with any caste/ religion (let me state once again: Lingayats are not Hindus, they are a separate religion)/ community, etc.
10: I belong to this world, the world belongs to me, my `children’ shall inherit the world that i shall leave for them. My only concern is what kind of world that i and my generation will be leaving for them. I WANT TO LEAVE FOR MY FUTURE GENERATIONS A WORLD WHICH SHALL BE INSPIRED BY BASAVANNA AND HIS CONTEMPORARY SHARANAS, BY BUDDHA, BY GANDHI AND BY BABA SAHEB AMBEDKAR.
THIS IS WHAT I AM AND THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE AND THIS IS WHAT I STAND FOR.
Link to this post – https://www.facebook.com/gauri.lankesh.3/posts/1507034879317183
This comment was made after clear understanding of the community and their fights within themselves. But this looks like it might be a reality, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hinting at recommending an independent religion tag for the Lingayat community.
Also Read: Lingayatism – An Independent Religion : Dr.N.G.Mahadevappa
Gauri Lankesh, was the Editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike, started by her father, PR Lankesh. He was respected writer and filmmaker. His tabloid was fearless and always anti-establishment. Carrying forward the same tradition, Gauri too ran the tabloid in similar fashion. Added to this was the fact was she was an activist and vociferous against the atrocities met to the downtrodden.
Must Read: Lingayat’s to initiate a forum to demand for separate Religion Status
Gauri treaded the path, which was rarely touched by most journalist. It was not just about investigative journalism or raise voice against communal forces. She was trying to bring the Naxalites of Karnataka, especially in the Mangalore, Udipi and Shimogga belt, to join the mainstream. In fact she was instrumental in getting few of them give up arms and join the mainstream.
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