<p class="bodytext">Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swami of Sanehalli Taralabalu Mutt, said that the Rambhapuri Veerasomeshwara Shivacharya Swami's statement that a few pontiffs are trying to create a rift in the religion is not right as the term 'Lingayat' has been referred to as a separate religion in the 12th century itself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at a programme during Suttur jatra mahotsava, he said, that the statement of Rambhapuri Swami, alleging that a few pontiffs are behaving as the sole stakeholders of Basavanna and are damaging the whole system, is not right.<br />The ongoing struggle is not for establishing a new religion, but, for seeking benefits in educational, political and employment opportunities, which is possible only, if Lingayats get minorities tag. Nobody is trying to decimate the religion, he explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rambhapuri Swami has issued a statement that sends a wrong signal to the society and other seers, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The seer said that the sharanas had opposed inequality and inhuman practices. They shunned homas, explaining that ghee, oil and food grains offered to fire, believing it as God, can be given to those in hunger. Their efforts were to create awareness against superstitions, explaining that 'body is the temple'. The result of all this was the rise of Lingayat religion, he opined.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swami of Sanehalli Taralabalu Mutt, said that the Rambhapuri Veerasomeshwara Shivacharya Swami's statement that a few pontiffs are trying to create a rift in the religion is not right as the term 'Lingayat' has been referred to as a separate religion in the 12th century itself.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at a programme during Suttur jatra mahotsava, he said, that the statement of Rambhapuri Swami, alleging that a few pontiffs are behaving as the sole stakeholders of Basavanna and are damaging the whole system, is not right.<br />The ongoing struggle is not for establishing a new religion, but, for seeking benefits in educational, political and employment opportunities, which is possible only, if Lingayats get minorities tag. Nobody is trying to decimate the religion, he explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rambhapuri Swami has issued a statement that sends a wrong signal to the society and other seers, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The seer said that the sharanas had opposed inequality and inhuman practices. They shunned homas, explaining that ghee, oil and food grains offered to fire, believing it as God, can be given to those in hunger. Their efforts were to create awareness against superstitions, explaining that 'body is the temple'. The result of all this was the rise of Lingayat religion, he opined.</p>
