PANCHAMASALI LINGAYATS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: The Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-caste of Karnataka's dominant Lingayat community, have been demanding inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) for over three years.

Panchamasali Lingayats

• About: The Lingayats (officially classified as Hindu sub-caste ‘Veerashaiva Lingayats’) are followers of Basavanna, a 12th century philosopher-saint.
• Anti-Caste Movement: Basavanna started a radical anti-caste movement which rejected orthodox ritualistic Hindu practices in favour of a more personal, affective relationship with God, specifically Lord Shiva.
• Separate Religion for Lingayats: Lingayats had distanced themselves from Hindu Veerashaivas because the latter followed the Vedas and supported the caste system, which Basaveshwara opposed.
• Religious Centers: Veerashaivas are the followers of the five peethas (religious centers), called Pancha Peethas. 

o These peethas are set up similarly to the four peethas established by Adi Shankara.

• Community Composition: Today, the Lingayat community is an amalgamation of many sub-castes.
• Largest Sub-Caste: Among the Lingayat sub-castes, the agriculturalist Panchamasalis are the largest, making up nearly 70% of the Lingayat population.
• Population of Panchamasalis: The Panchamasalis claim to number around 85 lakh — about 14% of Karnataka’s population of roughly six crore.