List of Lingayats

Updated on Dec 25, 2024

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Lingayat /ˈlɪŋɡɑːjʌθ/, also known as Veerashaiva /ˈviːrʌʃaɪvʌ/, are a community in India that adhere to the Shaivite faith of Lingayatism. This is a list of notable Lingayats:

Saints

Basavanna,

Siddharama, of solapur, Maharashtra.

Yediyur Siddhalingeshwara

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

Kakatiya dynasty - South Indian kingdom based from Warangal.

Rudrama Devi,- Kakatiya dynasty Queen.

Haleri Kings of Madikeri.

Linga Rajendra II - Haleri king of Kodagu,

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,

Basavaraja Devaru - Head of Mansur Revanasiddeshwar Mutt,

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

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,

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.

Y. G. Parameshwara – first Indian Blind Doctor,

A.N. Prabhu Deva - former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University,

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.

Palkuriki Somanatha - Telugu poet, author of Basava puranamu.

Hardekar Manjappa – known as Gandhi of Karnataka.

Phakirappa Gurubasappa Halakatti - Kannada writer,

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,

Chandrashekhar Patil - Kannada poet, playwright,

Patil Puttappa - Kannada writer,

Manu Baligar - former bureaucrat, and current president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

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 1977, Vice President of India 1974–1979, Chief Minister of Karnataka1958-1962, Governor of Orissa 1972–1974

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, Minister of Defence 1980–1989, Governor of Punjab 2010–2015, Governor of Rajasthan 2010-2012

M. S. Gurupadaswamy - Leader of House of Rajya Sabha 1989-1990, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha 1971-1972, Minister of Agriculture.

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 – 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,

Dilip Gangadhar Sopal - MLA, Barshi, Solapur, and former minister for Law and Judiciary, and Water supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra,

Shashil G. Namoshi – 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- 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, Padma Shri awardee,

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,

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.

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,

Ganesh Hukkeri - Member of Legislative Assembly, Chikkodi,

Lakshmi Hebbalkar - President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee women wing.

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

Murali Siddalingaiah - Tamil actor,

Atharvaa - Tamil actor,

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

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,

Naga Kiran - Kannada actor,

Kishore Kumar - South Indian actor,

Sumanth Shailendra - Kannada actor.

Sports

Prarthana Thombare - Indian Tennis player,

Nanjangud Shivananju Manju,Indian footballer,

Laxmikant Kattimani,Indian footballer,

Gagan Ullalmath, Indian swimmer,

Manju Nadgoda, Indian Lady Cricketer,

Sujith Somasunder Indian Cricketer,

Deepak Chougule, Indian Cricketer,

Harishchandra Birajdar, Wrestler & First Hind Kesari from Maharashtra, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Dhyanchand Awardee,

KL Rahul - International Cricketer - Team India,

Military and Police

General Satyawant Mallanna Shrinagesh - 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,

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, Aviation Security Audit Programme, International Civil Aviation Organisation, United Nations.

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.

Others

Sri Shilpi Siddanthi Siddalinga Swami - famous painter and sculptor from Mysore, architect of Vidhana Soudha domes.

M. D. Nanjundaswamy – farmer leader and activist.

Subhash Mendhapurkar - Social Activist, Himachal Pradesh.

S. R. Hiremath - Indian environmental and anti-corruption activist.

Malathi Basappa - Beauty pageant, Miss India 1972, Miss India World 1972, and 4th Runner-Up, Miss World 1972.

References

List of Lingayats Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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