Lingayat and Veerashaiva are not Separate – Pejawar Swamiji
Udupi: Lingayat community should remain in the fold of Hindu religion. Two traditions (Lingayat and Veerashaiva) in the Lingayat community, are not separate.
Lingayat and Veerashaiva were branches of the same religion said Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Pejawar Math.
Speaking to media persons the Swamiji said that, the two traditions of Lingayat and Veerashaiva could never be separate. if these two traditions are accepted as branches of the same religion, the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community would get more strength. When people of both these traditions are worshipping Lord Shiva as their chief deity, doing Shiva Panchakshari Japa and offering prayers to the Shiva Linga, how could they be different or separate from the Hindu religion? Lingayat and Veerashaiva community people should not talk about separation from Hinduism as they are an integral part of the Hindu religion. The Swamiji said that Hinduism is already under threat and if segments separate from it, it would affect the solidarity of Hinduism, he added.
The present scenario, one community cannot bring harm to another. Moreover, Brahmins who are a minority will not do injustice to any other majority communities. For the tragedy during the period of Basavanna, the Brahmins of contemporary period should not be blamed, he said