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Lingayat, also referred as Veerashaiva , are the people belonging to a group of endogamous communities in India that adhere to the shaivite faith of Lingayatism. Lingayats are the largest community in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Significant demographies of Lingayats are also found in the surrounding states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Lingayats and their Mutts, the monasteries, are known for their unique contributions towards social service, arts, culture, Music and education. Majority of the subgroups of Lingayats are of feudal past and are landowning. Lingayats constitute a dominant social, political and economical force in their inhabitant areas, especially in the state of Karnataka, and they are considered as a Forward Caste by the Government of India.

The sect of Lingayatism was founded in 12th century in the present day Karnataka by the philosopher and statesman Basava as a tradition challenging the Vedic Hinduism to establish a egalitarian casteless society disrespecting the Varna system. Soon, due to it's revolutionary philosophy and teachings that were much ahead of the time, and also due to the spread of it's vernacular literature by it's tireless proponants known as Sharanas, Lingayatism attracted new followers from a diverse social strata including various priestly, landowning, martial, occupational and untouchable communities. Though initially persecuted, the movement later went on to receive royal patronage from major Kannada dynasties like Keladi Nayakas, Sangama dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kakatiya dynasty, Haleri Kings of Kodagu and various other non descript rulers and Zamindars. Gradually the secatarian philosophy turned into a mass movement, and thus got translated into a significant demography. Lingayats are also known for their staunch vegetarianism.

It's followers, both the contemporary Lingayats and historical adherents, exhibit a considerable Syncretism with Shaivite Hinduism. Veerashaivism, an ancient Vedic Shaivite denomination with ritual similarities with that of Lingayatism like worship of Shiva in the form of Ishta Linga, gradually merged with Lingayatism, and both are colloquially called a single denomination, though often challenged by a section of the Lingayat scholars and historians. Nevertheless, both are officially considered as a single community and their adherents being invariably referred as Veerashaiva Lingayats.

Colonel Magodu Basappa Ravindranath, VrC,