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Lingayaths
Lingayaths(Telugu : లి౦గాయతులు/బలిజ) or Veerasaiva lingayaths or Balijas(or Appas) in the Telangana region is a caste created by Sri Renukacharya who is believed to be incarnation of Lord Shiva born in the holy town of Kolanupaka Temple of Warangal district district of Andhra Pradesh.Later it was popularized by Basaveshwara of Karnataka.Veerasaivisam became popular in the era of Kakatiyas rulers.Rudrama Devi,Prataparudrawere the most popular veerasaivas of that period.

Presently Lingayaths are the dominant sect of Karnataka and widely spread inAndhra Pradesh,Maharashtra and Tamilnadu. Their main occupation is trading,farming and administration.

After the fall of kakatiya dynasity most of the veerasaivas migrated to Karnataka.Lingayaths worship Lord Veerabhadra as their community God.

Some of the popular Telugu Lingayaths are:


 * Suresh shetkaru Member of Parliament]] Zaheerabad
 * Gurunath M.L.A kalyana Durgam
 * Sunitha Patil Ex.Zilla Parishad chair person Medak