List of Lingayats

Lingayat, also known as Veerashaiva, are a community in India who adhere to Lingayatism, a sect under Hinduism. This is a list of notable Lingayats:

Saints

 * Akka Mahadevi
 * Allama Prabhu
 * Basava
 * Channabasavanna
 * Devar Dasimayya
 * Madivala Machideva
 * Siddheshwar – of Solapur, Maharashtra
 * Viswabandhu Marulasiddha
 * Sharane Sri Danamma Devi – of Guddapura, Maharashtra
 * Sarvajna

Historical rulers

 * Kittur Chennamma(1778–1829) – queen of the princely state of Kitturu, Karnataka; fought against Doctrine of lapse
 * Belawadi Mallamma
 * Haleri Kings – of Madikeri
 * Linga Rajendra II – Haleri king of Kodagu
 * Chikka Virarajendra – last ruler of Madikeri
 * Keladi Nayaka Kingdom
 * Keladi Chennamma
 * Shivappa Nayaka

Philanthropists

 * Shivakumara Swamiji – head of Siddaganga Matha; Padma Bhushan awardee
 * Gubbi Thotadappa - founder of famous Thotadappa hostel.

Education, science and technology

 * D. C. Pavate - Vice chancellor of Karnataka University, Dharawada, Padmabhushan awardee.
 * Dr. DG Hallikeri – freedom fighter and educationist
 * A. S. Adke – former vice-chancellor of Karnataka University and former Principal of Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Surathkal
 * M. Mahadevappa – agricultural scientist and plant breeder; Padma Bhushan awardee
 * Dr. MC Modi – eye surgeon and Padma Bhushan awardee
 * Sharan Patil – philanthropist and orthopaedic surgeon
 * S. G. Balekundri – irrigation expert and architect of Alamatti Dam
 * Y. G. Parameshwara – first Indian blind doctor
 * A.N. Prabhu Deva – former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University
 * S. J. Nagalotimath – medical writer
 * A. S. Kiran Kumar – Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman of Space Commission and Padma Shri awardee

Literature

 * Sarvajna – Kannada poet
 * Chamarasa – author of Prabhulingaleele
 * Harihara – known as Ragaleya Kavi
 * Raghavanka – known as Shatpadi Brahma
 * Palkuriki Somanatha – Telugu poet, author of Basava purana
 * Nijaguna Shivayogi – 15th-century Kannada poet
 * Hardekar Manjappa – known as Gandhi of Karnataka
 * Phakirappa Gurubasappa Halakatti – Kannada writer
 * G. S. Shivarudrappa – Poet and critic, Rashtra Kavi
 * Chennaveera Kanavi – poet and critic
 * Panchakshari Hiremath – writer and poet, short story writer, essayist, critic, translator, orator, editor, who writes in Kannada, Urdu and Hindi
 * P. Lankesh – writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language
 * Jayadevi Taayi Ligade – writer; first lady president of akhila Bharatha Kannada saahitya sammelana
 * M. M. Kalburgi – Kannada scholar, Researcher, Vice Chancellor or Hampi Kannada University
 * H.S. Shivaprakash- Poet,Playwright
 * L. Basavaraju – Kannada eminent scholar and writer of several books on Sharana Sahitya
 * Sangamesh Saundattimath – Dravidian linguist
 * M. Chidananda Murthy – Kannada writer, researcher and historian
 * Channappa Uttangi – interfaith pioneer and writer
 * K. Marulasiddappa – Kannada writer
 * Chandrashekhar Patil – Kannada poet and playwright
 * Patil Puttappa – Kannada writer and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
 * Manu Baligar – former bureaucrat, and current president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat
 * T. V. Sadasiva Pandarathar - Tamil Historical writer

Art and music

 * Pandit Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai – Hindustani and classical musician
 * Basavaraj Rajguru – classical vocalist, Padma Bhushan awardee
 * Mallikarjun Mansur – Hindustani vocalist, Padma Vibhushan, Kalidas Samman awardee
 * Rajshekhar Mansur-Hindustani vocalist
 * Kumar Gandharva – Hindustani vocalist, Padma Vibhushan, Kalidas Samman awardee
 * Pandit Puttaraj Gawai – Hindustani and classical musician, Padma Bhushan, Kalidas Samman awardee
 * Mukul Shivputra – Hindustani classical music vocalist and son of Kumar Gandharva
 * Balappa Hukkeri – Kannada folk singer
 * Rajashekhar Mansur – classical vocalist
 * Gubbi Veeranna – theatre director, known as 'father of Kannada film industry'
 * B. Jayashree - theatre
 * Ranjani Shettar – artist and sculpurist
 * Vyjayanthi Kashi – artist and Kuchipudi dancer
 * Prateeksha Kashi – kuchipudi dancer

Other politicians

 * Shivraj Patil – Home Minister of India 2004–2008, Speaker of Lok Sabha 1991–1996, Minister of Defence 1980–1989, Governor of Punjab 2010–2015, Governor of Rajasthan 2010-2012
 * K. P. Puttanna Chetty – First President of Bangalore Municipality
 * M. S. Gurupadaswamy – Leader of House of Rajya Sabha 1989–1990, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha 1971–1972, Minister of Agriculture
 * Laxman Savadi – former Deputy Chief Minister, former Minister for Transport and Minister for Co-operation, Government of Karnataka
 * J. C. Madhu Swamy - ex Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and Minor Irrigation, Government of Karnataka
 * B. C. Patil - ex Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
 * V. Somanna - ex Minister for Housing, Government of Karnataka
 * C. C. Patil – ex Minister for Public Works Department, former Minister for Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka
 * Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle – ex Minister for Women and Child development, Senior Citizen and differently abled Empowerment, Government of Karnataka and MLA, Nippani
 * Eshwara Bhimanna Khandre – MLA and former Minister, Government of Karnataka
 * K. S. Nagarathanamma - former Speaker and Leader of opposition of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and minister for Health and family welfare.
 * S. Mallikarjunaiah – former MP Tumkur and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1991–1996)
 * M.P. Prakash – Congress Leader and Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka
 * M. B. Patil – former Minister for Water Resources, Government of Karnataka
 * Suresh Angadi – Minister of State for Railways, Government of India
 * Suresh Shetkar – former MP of Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Telangana
 * Gudleppa Hallikeri – freedom fighter and former Chairman of Legislative Council,
 * M. V. Rajasekharan – former Minister of State in the Ministry of Planning, Government of India
 * H.Siddhaveerappa – former minister for Home, Industries and Health, Leader of opposition, Government of Karnataka
 * Murugesh Nirani – former Minister for Heavy Industry, Government of Karnataka
 * S. S. Mallikarjun – MLA, Karnataka and Minister for Horticulture, Mines & Geology, Government of Karnataka
 * S. A. Ravindranath – former minister for Horticulture and Sugar, government of Karnataka
 * Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeswara – Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
 * Smt.Basavarajeswari – three time MP from Bellary and former Union Minister of India
 * Siddappa Kambli – politician, freedom fighter and contributor for Unification of Karnataka
 * Ratnappa Kumbhar – former MP, MLC and Minister of Home, Food and Civil Supplies in Maharashtra Government
 * Babagouda Patil – BJP Leader, former MP and Union Minister of Rural Areas & Employment
 * Basangouda Patil – former Union minister of state for Railways and Textiles
 * Dr Neeraj Patil – former Mayor of Lambeth, London
 * Vatal Nagaraj – former MLA and founder leader of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha
 * B. Y. Raghavendra – MP Shimoga; son of CM B. S. Yeddyurappa
 * M. P. Renukacharya – MLA and former Minister for Excise, Government of Karnataka
 * D. C. Srikantappa – former three time MP from Chikmagalur
 * Basavaraj Patil Sedam – former Member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
 * M. Rajasekara Murthy – former Union minister for Surface Transport, MP, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and former minister for Finance, Revenue, Excise and Commerce and Industry, Karnataka
 * Dilip Gangadhar Sopal – former MLA, Barshi, Solapur, and former minister for Law and Judiciary, and Water supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra
 * Shashil G. Namoshi – former Member of Legislative Council, Karnataka
 * Basavaraj Patil Attur – former minister for Higher Education, Small Scale Industries, and Minor Irrigation
 * Anant Gudhe – former Member of Parliament, Amravati
 * Chandrakant Khaire – former Member of Parliament, Aurangabad
 * Shamanuru Shivashankarappa – MLA, Davanagere South, former Minister for Horticulture and Agro Marketing, Government of Karnataka and President, Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha
 * H. K. Patil – former Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka
 * Sharan Prakash Patil – former Minister for Medical Education, Government of Karnataka
 * S. R. Patil – former Minister for Infrastructure, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, Planning and Statistics, Government of Karnataka
 * H. S. Mahadeva Prasad – former Minister for Co-operation, Government of Karnataka
 * Prakash Babanna Hukkeri – Member of Parliament, Chikkodi and former Minister for Sugar, Small Scale Industries and Endowments, Government of Karnataka
 * Bhagwanth Khuba – Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, New and Renewable Energy of India and Member of Parliament, Bidar
 * P. C. Gaddigoudar – Member of Parliament, Bagalkot
 * Karadi Sanganna Amarappa – Member of Parliament, Koppal (Lok Sabha constituency)
 * B. Jayashree – artist and former Member of Rajya Sabha, Padma Shri awardee
 * Annasaheb Jolle - Member of Parliament, Chikkodi.
 * B B Patil – Member of Parliament, Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Telangana
 * Satish Hiremath – former Mayor of Oro Valley, Arizona, United States of America
 * Manjunath Kunnur – former MP, Dharwad South
 * Basavraj Madhavrao Patil – MLA, Ausa, Latur, and former Minister for Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra
 * Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre – MLA, Akkalkot, Solapur, and former Minister for Home and Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra
 * Karne Prabhakar – MLC, Telangana, and Spokesperson of BRS
 * Vijay Deshmukh – former Minister of state for PWD, Transport, Labour and Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, and MLA, Solapur North
 * Vinay Kulkarni – former Minister for Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka, and MLA, Dharwad
 * Ganesh Hukkeri – Member of Legislative Assembly, Chikkodi
 * Lakshmi Hebbalkar – Member of Legislative Assembly and former president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee women's wing
 * B. Y. Vijayendra - president of Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka state unit
 * Rahul Siddhvinayak Bondre - MLA,, Maharashtra
 * Prabha Mallikarjun - Member of Parliament, Davanagere Lok Sabha constituency
 * Sagar Khandre - Member of Parliament, Bidar Lok Sabha constituency

Business

 * Baba Kalyani - Founder and Chairman of Kalyani Group
 * Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeswara – MP and head of GM group
 * Ashok Kheny – head of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Project (NICE)
 * Prabhakar B. Kore – Karnatak Lingayat Education Society (largest education society in the state), chairman, MP and former minister
 * Murugesh Nirani – of Nirani Group
 * Shamanuru Shivashankarappa – of Bapuji Educational Association
 * Vijay Sankeshwar – Chairman of VRL Group

Media and entertainment

 * M. P. Shankar – veteran Kannada film actor and director
 * Doddanna – veteran Kannada actor
 * Manjula – actress
 * B.C. Patil – Kannada actor
 * Prabhu deva – Indian actor, known as the Indian Michael Jackson
 * Mugur Sundar – Indian director
 * Raju Sundaram – Tamil actor
 * Nagendra Prasad – actor
 * Gubbi Veeranna – theatre director
 * B. C. Gowrishankar – choreographer
 * K. M. Chaitanya – director
 * Sharath Lohitashwa – actor
 * Lohithaswa – actor and writer
 * Kavitha Lankesh – writer and director
 * Gauri Lankesh - journalist
 * Vedhika Kumar – actress and model
 * Chindodi Leela – actress and dramatist, Padmashri awardee
 * Indrajit Lankesh – director
 * Preetham Gubbi – director
 * Dilip – South Indian actor
 * Girija Shettar – actress
 * Chetan Kumar – actor
 * Shashank – Kannada director
 * Uma Shivakumar – actress
 * Vaijanath Biradar – comedy actor
 * P. Neelakantan – Tamil director
 * Sunil Nagappa – actor
 * Sanchari Vijay – actor, winner of Best actor award in 62nd National Film Awards
 * Anoop Seelin – music director
 * Dhananjay – Kannada actor
 * Naga Kiran – Kannada actor
 * Kishore Kumar – South Indian actor
 * Sumanth Shailendra – Kannada actor
 * Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah - Kannada Producer
 * C. Rudraiah – Tamil director
 * Aditi Prabhudeva - Kannada actress
 * Chitkala Biradar - actress

Sports

 * Prarthana Thombare – Indian tennis player
 * Nanjangud Shivananju Manju – Indian footballer
 * Laxmikant Kattimani – Indian footballer
 * Gagan Ullalmath – Indian swimmer
 * Manju Nadgoda – Indian cricketer
 * Sujith Somasunder – Indian cricketer
 * Satish Kumar – Indian taekwondo player
 * Deepak Chougule – Indian cricketer
 * Harishchandra Birajdar – wrestler and first Hind Kesari from Maharashtra, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Dhyanchand Award recipient
 * Yere Goud – Indian cricketer
 * KL Rahul – Indian cricketer
 * Kruthik Hanagavadi - Indian Cricketer
 * Shreyanka Patil - Indian woman Cricketer
 * Aditi Ashok - Indian golfer

Military and police

 * General Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh – 3rd Chief of Army Staff - Indian Army, and former Governor of Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Mysore state
 * Lieutenant General B. S. Raju, UYSM, AVSM, YSM – Vice Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army, former Director General of Military Operations
 * Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, YSM & bar, VSM is a serving general officer – Vice Chief of Indian Army
 * Lieutenant General Ramesh Halagali, AVSM, SM – former Deputy Chief of Indian Army
 * Col M. B. Ravindranath VrC - Indian Army Officer and Vir Chakra Awardee
 * Shankar Bidari, IPS – former Director general of police, Karnataka and Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
 * L. Revanasiddaiah, IPS – former Additional Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, DGP, Karnataka and Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
 * B. G. Jyothi Prakash Mirji, IPS – former Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
 * Veeranna Aivalli, IPS – former Chairman of Aviation Security Audit Programme, International Civil Aviation Organization, United Nations
 * Mallikarjun Bande – slain Indian Police Sub-Inspector
 * Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad – Indian soldier
 * V. C. Sajjanar, IPS - Telangana Police officer known as an Encounter Specialist

Law and judiciary

 * V. S. Malimath – former Chief Justice of Kerala and Karnataka
 * Pramila Nesargi – advocate, politician and activist
 * Mohan Shantanagoudar – Former Judge of the Supreme court of India and former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court
 * S. R. Bannurmath - former Chief Justice of Kerala
 * Ravi Malimath - current Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh

Others

 * M. D. Nanjundaswamy – farmer leader and activist
 * Subhash Mendhapurkar – social activist, Himachal Pradesh
 * S. R. Hiremath – Indian environmental activist, Karnataka