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The Jangam or Jangama are a Shaiva order of wandering religious monks. They are the priests or gurus of the Hindu Shaiva. There is an age old debate and myth about calling Jangamas as 'Lingayath', but this is not correct. Jangamas are disciples of Lord Shiva and are designated to spread Veerashaivaism. They are also the priests in all the twelve Jyothirlinga temples.
History
Jangam are basically from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarath, and Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu they migrated from Karnataka and from Andhra Pradesh in order to propagate the Shaivaite cult and to act as priests for performing religious rites. Many Jangam live in Tamil Nadu, specifically, and in Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Theni, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Erode, Tirupur, Villupuram, Arni and Coimbatore, Pudukottai, Salem, Kanchipuram, Thiruvellore, Trichy and Chennai (Madras) districts.
The word jangam is derived from the movable emblem (linga) of Lord Shiva.