The Lingayat people are known for wearing a linga, an object representing a god; in this case, Shiva. They are a numerous group in India, especially in the state of Karnataka.
This group formed in the 12th century by Basava, a philosopher and a social reformer. He taught against the caste system and its regulations. He envisioned a casteless society, though the resulting society eventually began drawing up lines of caste distinctions again, creating their own hierarchy of social status after Basava's death.
Basava consented to the marriage of a Brahmin woman and a man from an untouchable caste. This story reached the ears of King Bijjala who punished the couple by putting out their eyes and dragging them to their deaths behind an elephant. Basava saw this punishment as unacceptable and left Kayla. He moved on to Kudula Sangama where he died in 1167.
They are found primarily in Karnataka, where they comprise a major population. They are also found in significant numbers in Maharashtra and Andrah Pradesh.
The Lingyat are vegetarian and refrain from alcoholic drinks. They are known to be a progressive people and there are people from many walks of life and religious expression to be found among them. Most work in government service, but they are from many occupations, including artisans, cultivators and priests.
They have a series of initiatory rites, including Lingadharane, the bestowing of the linga. This rite is usually performed within the first week of a child's life. From this day forward, the person will wear the stone as an act of worship of the god (Shiva), in a box around their neck. The linga is not seen as a mere representation of god, but rather god himself.
They adore Shiva, but Basava taught that his worshipers should worship him alone rather than numerous gods. Lingayats reject polytheism and the Vedas and follow the teachings of the Vachana sahitya instead.
Sources:
1. K. S. Singh, ed., India's Communities A-Z, Oxford University Press, USA (June 3, 1999) ISBN-10: 0195633547
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingayatism
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basava
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachanas
5.http://goo.gl/BRgiO
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2006-09-25 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-09-09 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-10-09 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2015-09-10 |
People Name General | Lingayat |
People Name in Country | Lingayat |
Population in India | 1,598,000 |
World Population | 1,598,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Unreached | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 31 |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Alternate Names | Banajiga, Hugar, Jangam, Jeer, Jir, Kuruhinashetti, Lingangani, Lingawant, Nagartha, Nai, Sivabhakta, Veerasaiva, लिंगायत |
People ID | 17372 |
ROP3 Code | 112764 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples | |||||||||||||||
People Cluster | Kannada | |||||||||||||||
People Group | Lingayat | |||||||||||||||
Ethnic Code | CNN23a | |||||||||||||||
Total Subgroups on file | 74 | |||||||||||||||
Largest Subgroups (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | Kannada |
People Group | Lingayat |
Ethnic Code | CNN23a |
Total Subgroups | 74 (only 15 largest shown) |
Jangam 404,000 | |
Padamsali 390,000 | |
Hadapad 173,000 | |
Nadig 120,000 | |
Raddi 118,000 | |
Banijiga 98,000 | |
Teli 91,000 | |
Devanga 85,000 | |
Gavandi 82,000 | |
Virasaiva 79,000 | |
Kuvrinshetti 77,000 | |
Hugar 71,000 | |
Vani 67,000 | |
Kudavakkal 61,000 | |
Vakkaliga 61,000 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | South Asia | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
|
|||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | South Asia |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 30 (only 20 largest shown) |
Karnataka 1,277,000 | |
Telangana 165,000 | |
Maharashtra 86,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 38,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 15,000 | |
Kerala 6,500 | |
Gujarat 4,000 | |
Delhi 3,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 900 | |
West Bengal 700 | |
Uttar Pradesh 600 | |
Goa 300 | |
Odisha 300 | |
Jharkhand 300 | |
Rajasthan 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Kannada (1,335,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
|||||||||||||||
Other People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language | Kannada (1,335,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 14 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 166,000 | |
Marathi 41,000 | |
Konkani 24,000 | |
Tulu 19,000 | |
Tamil 10,000 | |
English 1,400 | |
Konkani, Goan 1,000 | |
Hindi 1,000 | |
Malayalam 700 | |
Gujarati 400 | |
Kodava 200 | |
Ahirani 100 | |
Holiya 100 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-1995) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1831-2000) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | National Bible Societies |
Forum of Bible Agencies | World Bible Finder |
Gospel Go | World Bibles |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Fathers Love Letter |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture / Bible |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Kannada |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kannada |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Mobile App | Download Bible from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: ಕನ್ನಡ - Kannada |
Text / Printed Matter | Bibles, Bible League |
Text / Printed Matter | International Bible Society |
Text / Printed Matter | OneHope resources for children and youth |
Primary Religion: | Other / Small |
Religion Subdivision: | Lingayat |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.03 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
99.97 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2018 International Mission Board-SBC All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |
* Religion Values | From latest India census data. Current values may differ. |