List of Lingayats

Lingayat, also known as Veerashaiva /ˈvɪərəʃaɪvə/, are a community in India who adhere to Lingayatism. Lingayats are by far the largest in population in Karnataka.They are also in prominent numbers in some parts of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.This is a list of notable Lingayats:[1][2][3]

Lingayats

Regions with significant populations
India Other significant population centers:  United States  United Kingdom  Australia
Languages
Kannada Marathi Telugu Konkani Tamil Malayalam Hindi
Religion
Hinduism (Lingayatism)
Related ethnic groups
Indo-Aryan peoples Dravidian

Saints

• Basavanna[4]
• Allama Prabhu[5]
• Akka Mahadevi[6]
• Channabasavanna[7]
• Devar Dasimayya[8]
• Madivala Machideva[9]
• Siddharama – of Solapur, Maharashtra
• Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara[10]
• Viswabandhu Marulasiddha[11]
• Sri Revanna Siddeshwara Swamy[12]
• Sri Danamma Devi[13] – of Guddapura, Maharashtra
• Sarvajna
• Vemana
• Sharane Sri Danamma Devi

Historical rulers

• Kittur Chennamma(1778–1829)[14] – queen of the princely state of Kitturu, Karnataka; fought against Doctrine of lapse
• Belawadi Mallamma[15]
• Haleri Kings –[16] of Madikeri
• Linga Rajendra II – Haleri king of Kodagu
• Chikka Virarajendra –[17] last ruler of Madikeri
• Keladi Nayaka Kingdom[18]
• Keladi Chennamma[18]
• Shivappa Nayaka[18]
• Wodeyars of Mysore

Philanthropists

• Shivakumara Swamiji – head of Siddaganga Matha; Padma Bhushan awardee[19]
• Gubbi Thotadappa - founder of famous Thotadappa hostel.

Education, science and technology

• D. C. Pavate - Vice chancellor of Karnataka University, Dharawada, Padmabhushan awardee.
• 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 – agricultural scientist and plant breeder; Padma Bhushan awardee
• Dr. MC Modi – eye surgeon and Padma Bhushan awardee[20]
• 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[21]
• Y. G. Parameshwara – first Indian blind doctor
• A.N. Prabhu Deva – former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University
• S. J. Nagalotimath – medical writer
• A. S. Kiran Kumar[22] – Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman of Space Commission and Padma Shri awardee
• Dr. K Bhogishayana - Formar Vice Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur (1983 - 1988).

Literature

• Sarvajna – Kannada poet
• Chamarasa[23] – author of Prabhulingaleele
• Harihara – known as Ragaleya Kavi
• Raghavanka – known as Shatpadi Brahma
• Palkuriki Somanatha[24] – Telugu poet, author of Basava purana
• Nijaguna Shivayogi – 15th-century Kannada poet
• Hardekar Manjappa – known as Gandhi of Karnataka[25]
• Phakirappa Gurubasappa Halakatti – Kannada writer
• G. S. Shivarudrappa – Poet and critic, Rashtra Kavi
• Chennaveera Kanavi – poet and critic
• Panchakshari Hiremath – writer and poet, short story writer, essayist, critic, translator, orator, editor, who writes in Kannada, Urdu and Hindi
• P. Lankesh – writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language
• Jayadevi Taayi Ligade – writer; first lady president of akhila Bharatha Kannada saahitya sammelana
• M. M. Kalburgi – Kannada scholar, Researcher, Vice Chancellor or Hampi Kannada University
• 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
• Chandrashekhar Patil – Kannada poet and playwright
• Patil Puttappa – Kannada writer and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
• Manu Baligar – former bureaucrat, and current president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat
• T. V. Sadasiva Pandarathar - Tamil Historical 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, known as 'father of Kannada film industry'
• B. Jayashree - theatre
• Ranjani Shettar – artist and sculpurist
• Vyjayanthi Kashi – artist and Kuchipudi dancer
• Prateeksha Kashi – kuchipudi dancer
• Dr. Jayadevi Jangamashetti – Hindustani Music Vocalist

Politics

• S. Nijalingappa – Freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Karnataka 1956-58, 1962–68 and president All India Congress Committee[26]
• Basappa Danappa Jatti – President of India 1977, Vice President of India 1974–1979, Chief Minister of Karnataka1958-1962, Governor of Orissa 1972–1974[27]
• Shivraj Patil – Home Minister of India 2004–2008, Speaker of Lok Sabha 1991–1996, Minister of Defence 1980–1989, Governor of Punjab 2010–2015, Governor of Rajasthan 2010-2012[28]
• K. P. Puttanna Chetty – First President of Bangalore Municipality
• M. S. Gurupadaswamy – Leader of House of Rajya Sabha 1989-1990, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha 1971-1972, Minister of Agriculture[29]
• S. R. Bommai[26] – former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Union Minister of Human Resource Development
• S. R. Kanthi – former Chief Minister of Karnataka[26]
• Veerendra Patil – former Chief Minister of Karnataka[26]
• Jayadevappa Halappa Patel – former Chief Minister of Karnataka[28]
• B. S. Yeddyurappa – Chief Minister of Karnataka[28]
• Jagadish Shettar – former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Leader of opposition, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Present Minister for Heavy and Medium Scale Industries, Government of Karnataka
• Laxman Savadi – Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Transport and former Minister for Co-operation, Government of Karnataka
• Basavaraj Bommai – Current Home Minister and former Minister for Water resources, Government of Karnataka
• J. C. Madhu Swamy - Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and Minor Irrigation, Government of Karnataka
• B. C. Patil - Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
• V. Somanna - Minister for Housing, Government of Karnataka
• C. C. Patil – Minister for Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka[28]
• Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle – Minister for Women and Child development, Senior Citizen and differently abled Empowerment, Government of Karnataka and MLA, Nippani
• Eshwara Bhimanna Khandre – MLA and former Minister, Government of Karnataka
• K. S. Nagarathanamma - former Speaker and Leader of opposition of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and minister for Health and family welfare.[30]
• S. Mallikarjunaiah – former MP Tumkur and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1991–1996)[28]
• M.P. Prakash – Congress Leader and Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka[28]
• M. B. Patil – former Minister for Water Resources, Government of Karnataka
• Suresh Angadi – Minister of State for Railways, Government of India
• Suresh Shetkar – former MP of Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Telangana
• 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 Heavy Industry, Government of Karnataka
• Shamanur Mallikarjun – former MLA, Karnataka and Former Minister for Horticulture, 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[28]
• 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[31]
• Babagouda Patil – BJP Leader, former MP and Union Minister of Rural Areas & Employment[28]
• Basangouda Patil – former Union minister of state for Railways and Textiles[28]
• Dr Neeraj Patil – former Mayor of Lambeth, London
• Vatal Nagaraj – former MLA and founder leader of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha
• B. Y. Raghavendra – MP Shimoga; son of CM B. S. Yeddyurappa
• M. P. Renukacharya – MLA and former Minister for Excise, Government of Karnataka
• Vinay Kore – former Minister of Non-Conventional Energy & Horticulture, Govt. of Maharashtra and the Chairman of the Warana Group of Industries
• D. C. Srikantappa – former three time MP from Chikmagalur
• Basavaraj Patil Sedam – former Member of Lok Sabha and 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[28]
• Dilip Gangadhar Sopal – former MLA, Barshi, Solapur, and former minister for Law and Judiciary, and Water supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra
• Shashil G. Namoshi – former Member of Legislative Council, Karnataka
• Basavaraj Patil Attur – former minister for Higher Education, Small Scale Industries, and Minor Irrigation
• Anant Gudhe – former Member of Parliament, Amravati
• Chandrakant Khaire – former Member of Parliament, Aurangabad
• Shamanuru Shivashankarappa – MLA, Davanagere South, former Minister for Horticulture and Agro Marketing, Government of Karnataka[28] and President, Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha
• H. K. Patil – former Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka[32][33]
• Sharan Prakash Patil – former Minister for Medical Education, Government of Karnataka
• S. R. Patil – former Minister for Infrastructure, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, Planning and Statistics, Government of Karnataka
• H. S. Mahadeva Prasad – former 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[34]
• Karadi Sanganna Amarappa – Member of Parliament, Koppal (Lok Sabha constituency)[35]
• B. Jayashree – artist and former Member of Rajya Sabha, Padma Shri awardee[36]
• Annasaheb Jolle - Member of Parliament, Chikkodi.
• B B Patil – Member of Parliament, Zahirabad (Lok Sabha constituency), Telangana[37]
• Satish Hiremath – former Mayor of Oro Valley, Arizona, United States of America
• Manjunath Kunnur – former MP, Dharwad
• Basavraj Madhavrao Patil – MLA, Ausa, Latur, and former Minister for Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra
• Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre – MLA, Akkalkot, Solapur, and former Minister for Home and Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra
• Karne Prabhakar – MLC, Telangana, and Spokesperson of TRS[38]
• Vijay Deshmukh – former Minister of state for PWD, Transport, Labour and Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, and MLA, Solapur North[39]
• Vinay Kulkarni – former Minister for Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka, and MLA, Dharwad[40]
• Ganesh Hukkeri – Member of Legislative Assembly, Chikkodi
• Lakshmi Hebbalkar – Member of Legislative Assembly and former President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee women's wing
• B.S.Paramashivaih- First Chairman of Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayath Abhivrudhi Nigama

Business

• Vinay Kore – Chairman of the Warana Group, Maharashtra
• Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeswara – MP and head of GM group[41]
• Ashok Kheny – head of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Project (NICE)
• Baba Kalyani – Chairman of Bharat Forge and Kalyani Group, Padma Bhushan awardee
• Prabhakar B. Kore – Karnatak Lingayat Education Society (largest 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

• M. P. Shankar – veteran Kannada film actor and director
• Doddanna – veteran Kannada actor
• Manjula – actress
• B.C. Patil – Kannada actor
• Prabhu deva – Indian actor, known as the Indian Michael Jackson
• Mugur Sundar – Indian director
• Raju Sundaram – Tamil actor
• Nagendra Prasad – actor
• Gubbi Veeranna – theatre director
• B. C. Gowrishankar – choreographer
• K. M. Chaitanya – director
• Sharath Lohitashwa – actor
• Lohithaswa – actor and writer
• Kavitha Lankesh – writer and director
• Gauri Lankesh - journalist
• 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
• Naga Kiran – Kannada actor
• Kishore Kumar – South Indian actor
• Sumanth Shailendra – Kannada actor
• Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah - Kannada Producer
• S. N. Surendar- Playback Singer (Malayalam)

Sports

• Prarthana Thombare – Indian tennis player
• Nanjangud Shivananju Manju – Indian footballer
• Laxmikant Kattimani – Indian footballer
• Gagan Ullalmath – Indian swimmer
• Manju Nadgoda – Indian cricketer
• Sujith Somasunder – Indian cricketer
• Satish Kumar – Indian taekwondo player
• Deepak Chougule – Indian cricketer
• Harishchandra Birajdar – wrestler and first Hind Kesari from Maharashtra, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Dhyanchand Award recipient
• Yere Goud – Indian cricketer
• KL Rahul – Indian cricketer
• Vidyadhar Patil – India U-19 cricketer

Military and police

• General Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh[42] – 3rd Chief of Army Staff - Indian Army, and former Governor of Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Mysore state
• Lieutenant General Ramesh Halagali, AVSM, SM – former Deputy Chief of Indian Army
• Col M. B. Ravindranath VrC - Inidan Army Officer and Vir Chakra Awardee
• Shankar Bidari, IPS – former Director general of police, Karnataka and Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
• L. Revanasiddaiah, IPS – former Additional Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, DGP, Karnataka and Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
• B. G. Jyothi Prakash Mirji, IPS – former Commissioner of Police of Bangalore city
• Veeranna Aivalli, IPS – former Chairman of Aviation Security Audit Programme, International Civil Aviation Organization, United Nations[19]
• Mallikarjun Bande – slain Indian Police Sub-Inspector
• Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad – Indian soldier

Law and judiciary

• V. S. Malimath – former Chief Justice of Kerala and Karnataka
• Shivaraj Patil – former Judge of Supreme Court of India and former Chief justice of Rajasthan
• S. R. Bannurmath – Chairman, Maharashtra Human rights commission and former Chief Justice of Kerala
• Pramila Nesargi – advocate, politician and activist
• Ashok B. Hinchigeri – Judge, Karnataka High Court
• Mohan Shantanagoudar – current Judge of the Supreme court of India and former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court
• Ravi Malimath - Acting Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court.[43]

Others

• M. D. Nanjundaswamy – farmer leader and activist
• Subhash Mendhapurkar – social activist, Himachal Pradesh
• S. R. Hiremath – Indian environmental and anti-corruption activist[44]
• Malathi Basappa – beauty pageant, Miss India 1972, Miss India World 1972, and 4th runner-up, Miss World 1972

References

1. "Prominent Figures – Veerashaiva.info". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
2. Community dominance and political modernisation: the Lingayats
3. Prominent Lingayat Figures
4. is Basavanna?
5. Sharanas
6. "Prominent Lingayat Figures". virashaiva.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
7. "Channabasavanna". lingayatreligion.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
8. "'Devar Dasimayya Jayanti Utsav' celebrated". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
9. "Madivala Machideva - Lingayat Religion". lingayatreligion.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
10. "Veerashaiva". veerashaivainfo. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
11. "Ujjini Marulasiddeshwara Temple". Goudar.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
12. "Tourism in Karnataka". HolidayLandmark.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
13. "Story of Danamma Devi". Filmibeat. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
14. "Lingayats asked to work for progress of all groups". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
15. "Power not permanent: Yeddyurappa". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
16. On the Haleri Trail - Deccan Herald
17. "The Lingayat Rajas". Kodagu First. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
18. Keladi Nayakas - Shivappa Nayaka and Chennamma, Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats. Mittal Publications. Shankaragouda Hanumanthagouda Patil. 2002. ISBN 9788170998679. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
19. List of Prominent Lingayats
20. "Man with a vision". Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
21. Second Visveswarayya
22. "A S Kiran Kumar felecitation - awarded Veerashaiva Vaijnyanika Ratna". Namaste Telangana. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
23. "Chamarasa". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
24. Sujit Mukherjee (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 - Palkuriki Somanatha. ISBN 9788125014539. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
25. Hardekar Manjappa
26. "Karnataka CM banks on Lingayat card". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
27. B. D. Jatti
28. "Prominent Lingayat Figures". Virasaiva.com. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
29. "M. S. Gurupadaswamy biography". In.com. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
30. First Woman Speaker of Karnataka - K. S. Nagarathnamma
31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-05-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
32. H. K. Patil
33. The importance of being Patil
34. "Bagalkot registers 57.93 per cent polling". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
35. "The bastion of Lingayats". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
36. "B. Jayashree". Tumkurinfo. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
37. Separate Bhavan in Hyd–Lingayats urge CM
38. Queues say a sop story in Hyderabad
39. "3 Western Maharashtra leaders make it to Fadnavis cabinet". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
40. "Four more Ministers sworn in Karnataka - Vinay Kulkarni". News Karnataka. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
41. Gm Group's
42. "S. M. Shrinagesh". Udayavaani. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
43. "Justice Malimath to be acting CJ of U'khand HC". Times of India. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
44. MAN WITH A MISSION

External links

• Community dominance and political modernisation: the Lingayats, Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil, ISBN 9788170998679
• List of Prominent Lingayats
• Lingayat Religion
• Welcome to Lingayat Religion
• Basava Divine Center