Udupi, Oct 22: Accepting the challenge of retired IAS officer S M Jaamdar, Paryaya Pejawar Mutt pontiff Vishwesha Teertha Swami said on Saturday that he was ready for a debate on how Lingayat–Veerashaiva community was a part of Hindu religion.
Addressing presspersons here, he said that such a debate should be held at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru after January 18.
The seer’s earlier comments that Lingayats are part of the Hindu faith and that they cannot claim separate religion status have drawn wide criticism by groups campaigning for separate religion tag. Jaamdar had challenged the seer for a debate on the issue.
The seer said: “I am prepared any time to attend the debate. I am not selfish and I have no political motives. I urge the Lingayats to stay in Hinduism as they are part of Hinduism.”
Reiterating that Lingayats were Hindus, the seer contradicted the statements made by Jaamdar. The seers of Siddaganga Mutt and Suttur Mutt participated in the regional conference of Vishwa Hindu Parishad held in 1968 and 1985. The controversy over separate religion tag is a new one and it is diluting the prominence of Lingayats in Hinduism. Basavanna had also agreed on the concept of reincarnation and rebirth, he said.
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