Know about your lingayat Community

Lingayat also known as Veerashaiva are a community in India that adhere to the Shaivite faith of Lingayatism. Hindus, though the community population is 4 crore across the country, including 2 crore in Karnataka. This is a list of notable Lingayats.

                                                                     Basavanna

  Baba Kalyani

                                                            Keladi Shivappa Nayaka

 

 Rao Bahadur Gubbi Thotadappa

 Kittur Chennamma

 Prabhu Deva

 Sarvajna

 

 S. Nijalingappa

 S. R. Bommai

Shivraj Patil

 

 Jagadish Shettar

KL Rahul

List of Lingayats

 Saints

•     Basavanna

Basava was a 12th century Indian philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet in the Shiva-focussed Bhakti movement and a social reformer during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Karnataka, India.

•     Allama Prabhu
•     Akka Mahadevi
•     Channabasavanna
•     Devar Dasimayya
•     Madivala Machideva
•     Siddharama,of solapur, Maharashtra.
•     Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara
•     Palkuriki Somanatha
•     Viswabandhu Marulasiddha
•     Sri Revanna Siddeshwara Swamy
•     Sri Danamma Devi, of Guddapura, Maharashtra.

Historical rulers

•     Kittur Chennamma(1778–1829) – famous queen of the princely state of Kitturu,         Karnataka, fought againist Doctrine of lapse.
•     Nolamba Dynasty – Southern Indian Ruling Dynasty.
•     South Kalachuri kingdom.
•     Belawadi Mallamma
•     Rudrama Devi, Kakatiya dynasty Queen.
•     Haleri Kings of Madikeri.
•     Chikka Virarajendra, last ruler of Madikeri.
•     Sangama Dynasty
•     Keladi Nayaka Kingdom
•     Keladi Chennamma
•     Shivappa Nayaka
•     Bukka Raya I
•     Harihara Raya II
•     Virupaksha Raya
•     Bukka Raya II
•     Deva Raya I
•     Ramachandra Raya
•     Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya
•     Deva Raya II
•     Mallikarjuna Raya
•     Virupaksha Raya II
•     Praudha Devaraya.

Philanthropists

•     Dr. Shri Shri Shivakumara Swamiji – head of Siddaganga Matha, Padma Bhushan awardee.
•     Dr. Shivamurthy Shivacharya Mahaswamiji – Taralabalu Jagadguru Brihanmath, Sirigere.
•     Siddharudha Swami – great Hindu mystic.
•     Dagadushet Gadave - Founder of Dagadushet Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune
•     Sir K. P. Puttanna Chetty CIE - Bureaucrat, administrator and philanthropist, First president of Bangalore Municipal Council, former Chairman of State Bank of Mysore,
•     Rao Bahadur Gubbi Thotadappa, philanthropist and founder of Thotadappa Chathra, Bangalore.
• Education,Science and technology
•     D. M. Nanjundappa – noted economist from Karnataka, Vice-chancellor of Bangalore University and Karnataka University.
•     R. C. Hiremath – noted researcher, writer and the vice-chancellor of Karnataka University, Dharwar.
•     H. S. Shivaprakash – poet and playwright. Dean,School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
•     D. C. Pavate, Padma Bhushan and former vice Chancellor of Karnataka University and Governor of Punjab.
•     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 - renowned Agricultural scientist and Plant breeder, Padma Bhushan awardee,
•     Dr. MC Modi – famous eye surgeon and Padma Bhushan awardee,[25]
•     Sharan Patil – philanthropist and orthopaedic surgeon,
•     G. S. Paramasivaiah -co-founder of Karnatak University, Student of the Nobel-laureate Sir CV Raman,
•     S. G. Balekundri – Irrigation expert and architect of Alamatti Dam.[26]
•     Y. G. Parameshwara – first Indian Blind Doctor,
•     S. J. Nagalotimath – Medical writer,
•     G.S. Paramashivaiah - Irrigation expert and Chief Engineer,
•     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.
•     Hardekar Manjappa – known as Gandhi of Karnataka.
•     G. S. Shivarudrappa – poet and critic, Rashtra Kavi.
•     Chennaveera Kanavi – poet and critic.
•     Panchakshari Hiremath – writer and noted poet, short story writer, essayist, critic, translator, orator, editor, who writes in Kannada, Urdu and Hindi.
•     Nijaguna Shivayogi – 15th century Kannada poet.
•     P. Lankesh – writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language.
•     Jayadevi Taayi Ligade – writer and first lady president of akhila Bharatha Kannada saahitya sammelana.
•     M. M. Kalburgi – Kannada Scholar.
•     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

Art and Music

•     Pandit Ganayogi Panchakshara Gawai – Hindustani and classical musician
•     Basavaraj Rajguru – Classical vocalist, Padma Bhushan awardee
•     Mallikarjun Mansur – Classical vocalist, Padma Vibhushan, Kalidas Samman awardee
•     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, famously known as 'Father of Kannada Film Industry'
•     Ranjani Shettar, famous artist and sculpurist,
•     Vyjayanthi Kashi, famous artist and Kuchipudi dancer,
•     Prateeksha Kashi, famous kuchipudi dancer.

Politics

•     Basappa Danappa Jatti        President of India- 11 February 1977 – 25 July 1977
•         Vice President of India- 1 September 1974 – 25 July 1977
•         Chief Minister of Karnataka- 16 May 1958 – 9 March 1962
•         Governor of Orissa- 8 November 1972 – 20 August 1974
•         Lt. Governor of Pondicherry14 October 1968 – 7 November 1972
•     S. Nijalingappa – Freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Karnataka and president All India Congress Committee
•     Shivraj Patil
•         Home Minister of India- 2004–2008
•         Speaker of Lok Sabha- 1991–1996
•         Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha - 1990 - 1991
•         Minister of Defence- 15 January 1980 –2 December 1989
•         Governor of Punjab, January 2010 – 2015
•         Governor of Rajasthan - April 2010 – May 2012,
•         Administrator of Chandigarh – January 2010 – 2015
•     M. S. Gurupadaswamy
•         Leader of House of Rajya Sabha - December 1989 to November 1990,
•         Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha - March 1971 to April 1972, 28 June 1991 to 21 July 1991,
•         Minister of Agriculture (India) - 1967 to 1969,
•         Minister for Food, Community Development and Cooperation - 1967 to 1969,
•         Minister of state for Atomic Energy - 1967.
•         Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals - 1989 to 1990.
•     S. R. Bommai – former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Union Minister of Human Resource Development
•     S. R. Kanthi – former Chief Minister of Karnataka
•     Veerendra Patil – former Chief Minister of Karnataka
•     Jayadevappa Halappa Patel[32] – former Chief Minister of Karnataka
•     B. S. Yeddyurappa – former Chief Minister of Karnataka
•     Jagadish Shettar – former Chief Minister of Karnataka and current Leader of opposition, Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
•     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 – Minister for Water Resources, Government of Karnataka.
•     Suresh Angadi – MP, Belgaum (Lok Sabha constituency).
•     Suresh Shetkar - former MP of Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Andhra Pradesh
•     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 Industries, Government of Karnataka.
•     Shamanur Mallikarjun – MLA, Karnataka and Former Minister for Youth Services and Sports, 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 – Senior 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 – mayor of Lambeth.London.
•     Vatal Nagaraj – politician and founder leader of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha
•     B. Y. Raghavendra – MP Shimoga and son of CM B. S. Yeddyurappa.
•     M. P. Renukacharya – former Minister for Excise, Government of Karnataka.
•     Laxman Savadi – former Minister for Co-operation, Government of Karnataka.
•     Vinay Kore – former Minister of Non-Conventional Energy & Horticulture, Govt. of Maharashtra and the Chairman of the Warana Group of Industries.
•     Basavaraj Bommai – former Minister for Water resources, Government of Karnataka.
•     D. C. Srikantappa – former three time MP from Chikmagalur.
•     Basavaraj Patil Sedam – Member of 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,
•     Shashil G. Namoshi – Member of Legislative Council, Karnataka.
•     Anant Gudhe- Member of Parliament, Amaravati.
•     Chandrakant Khaire- Member of Parliament, Aurangabad.
•     Shamanuru Shivashankarappa – Minister for Horticulture and Agro Marketing, Government of Karnataka.
•     H. K. Patil – Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka.
•     Sharan Prakash Patil – Minister for Medical Education, Government of Karnataka.
•     S. R. Patil - Minister for Infrastructure, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, Planning and Statistics, Government of Karnataka.
•     H. S. Mahadeva Prasad – 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 - 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 Member of Rajya Sabha,
•     Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle - Member of Legislative Assembly, Nippani.
•     B B Patil - Member of Parliament, Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Telangana.
•     Satish Hiremath - Mayor of Oro Valley, Arizona, United States of America.
•     Karne Prabhakar - MLC, Telangana, and Spokesperson of TRS,
•     Vijay Deshmukh - Minister of state for PWD, Transport, Labour and Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, and MLA, Solapur North.
•     Vinay Kulkarni - Minister for Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka, and MLA, Dharwad. 

 Business

•     Vinay Kore – Chairman of the Warana Group, Maharashtra
•     Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeswara – MP and head of GM group.
•     Ashok Kheny – Award winner, Head of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Project (NICE)
•     Baba Kalyani of Bharat Forge and Kalyani Group, Padma Bhushan Awardee.
•     Prabhakar B. Kore – Karnatak Lingayat Education Society (The biggest 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

•     S. Siddalingaiah - Kannada director,
•     M. P. Shankar – veteran Kannada film actor and director,
•     Doddanna – veteran Kannada actor,
•     Aarathi - Kannada actress and director,
•     Manjula - actress,
•     B.C. Patil – famous Kannada actor,
•     Prabhu deva – famous Indian actor,known as Indian Michael Jackson,
•     Mugur Sundar – famous Indian director,
•     Raju Sundaram – famous Tamil actor,
•     Nagendra Prasad – actor,
•     Gubbi Veeranna – theatre director
•     B. C. Gowrishankar - veteran Choreographer,
•     Murali - Tamil actor,
•     Adharvaa – Tamil actor,
•     K. M. Chaitanya – director,
•     Sharath Lohitashwa – actor,,
•     Lohithaswa – actor and writer,
•     Kavitha Lankesh – writer and director,
•     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.

Sports
  

•     Nanjangud Shivananju Manju,Indian footballer
•     Laxmikant Kattimani,Indian footballer
•     Gagan Ullalmath, Olympian.
•     Manju Nadgoda, Indian Lady Cricketer
•     Sujith Somasunder Indian Cricketer
•     Deepak Chougule, Cricketer
•     Harishchandra Birajdar, Wrestler & First Hind Kesari from Maharashtra, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Dhyanchand Awardee
•     KL Rahul - International Cricketer - Team India

Others

•     Sri Shilpi Siddanthi Siddalinga Swami - famous painter and sculptor from Mysore, architect of Vidhana Soudha domes.
•     Lieutenant General Ramesh Halagali, AVSM, SM, Deputy Chief of Indian Army.
•     Shankar Bidari – former Director general of police, Karnataka.
•     Veeranna Aivalli,IPS – former Chairman, Aviation Security Audit Programme, International Civil Aviation Organisation, United Nations.
•     M. D. Nanjundaswamy – farmer leader and activist.
•     Subhash Mendhapurkar - Social Activist, Himachal Pradesh.
•     V. S. Malimath - former Chief Justice of Kerala,
•     Shivaraj Patil - former Judge of Supreme Court of India and former Chief justice of Rajastan.
•     S. R. Bannurmath - Chairman, Maharashtra Human rights commission and former Chief Justice of Kerala.
•     S. R. Hiremath - Indian environmental and anti-corruption activist    Mallikarjun Bande - slain Indian Police Sub-Inspector.
•     Pramila Nesargi - Advocate, politician and activist.
•     Ashok B. Hinchigeri - Judge, Karnataka High Court.
•     Malathi Basappa - Beauty pageant, winner of Miss India World 1972, Bharat Sundari 1972 and 4th Runner-Up, Miss World 1972.
•     Vinod Paramshetti - Doctor, Miraj.