Mysuru:  Maintaining that a separate Lingayat religion status is their right, Mudigunda Virakta Mutt Seer Srikanta Swamiji said that the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha was fighting to get Lingayat religion status.

He was speaking after inaugurating the District Office of Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha at Hosa Mutt premises here on Sunday.

Dismissing allegations that the Mahasabha was dividing the community, the Seer said that there is no religious status for Veerashaivas and as such there was no question of dividing the community.

Refuting the claims of Veerashaivas that Lingayats were dividing the community, Srikantaswamiji said that Veerashaiva was among one of the seven (Sapta) shaivas.

No one knows where ‘Veerashaiva’ was born and also its philosophy and its holy book are not known. As such we cannot grant recognition for Veerashaivas, he said and added that they were not against the system.

Observing that Hinduism has many sects and Veerashaiva is one among them, the Seer said that the fight for getting separate religion tag for Lingayats will continue.

Claiming that Lingayat Dharma always stood for gender equality, the Seer said that Lingayat Dharma was based entirely on Basavanna’s principles and ideologies.

Alleging that some politicians were opposing the Lingayat movement only to save their chairs, the Seer cautioned that the career of politicians opposing the separate Lingayat religion tag may come to an end, if they continued to oppose..

Ravandur Murugha Mutt Seer Mokshapathi Swamiji in his address, said that Lingayat religion is spread across the world.

Calling upon the community members to work with a perfect co-ordination in order to achieve separate religion goal, the Seer cautioned the community members to be wary of politicians and leaders who spread false propaganda.

Mysuru Neelakanta Mutt Seer Siddamalla Swamiji released a Kannada handbook titled ‘Lingayata Horata: Hindu Virodhiye Mathu Desha Virdodhiye,’ while Ravandur Murugha Mutt Seer Mokshapathi Swamiji released its English version.

Chikkamagalur’s N.R. Pura Basava Kendra Seer Basavayogi Prabhu Swamiji released the Lingayat Mahasabha’s identity card on the occasion.

Hosamutt Seer Chidananda Swamiji graced the occasion.

Gurumalleshwara Mutt’s Jayadevi Tayi, Basava Gnanamandira’s Mate Basavanjali, Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha office-bearers Mahadevappa, Guruprasad, Guruswamy and others were present.