Who were Lingayats? Mention one idea that they challenged
A new movement emerged in Karnataka in the twelfth century. It was initiated by Basavanna, a Brahmana. He was earlier a Jaina and a minister in the court of Chalukya King. He had many followers who were called Virashaivas or the heroes of Shiva. They were also called Lingayats, that is, wearers of the linga.They worshipped Shiva in his manifestation as a linga. They usually wore a small linga in a silver case. They hung it over, their left shoulder. They believed that they would be united with Shiva after their death. After their meeting with Shiva, they would never return to this world. They did not practice the funeral rites like cremation. They ceremonially buried their dead. They did not believe in the caste system. They attributed pollution to certain groups of Brahmanas. They repudiated the theory of rebirth.
