Human Equality in Lingayat

Lingayathism Do Not Believe in Four fold caste system

Lingayathism does not believe in four fold caste system and declares as these are man made not GOD craeted.
1. Brahmin.
2. Kshatriya
3. Vaishya.
4. Shudra & Untouchables (Asprushya)
and considers this classification as man-made and advocates for horizontal type of society based on religions and social equality.

Lingayat completely disagrees to the caste system which is written in Vedas, Sastras and Agamas. These all are not be used for practical lives which were separates people based on birth.

I shall sheathe the Vedas, fetter the Sastras,
Put Tarka in tongs, deface the Agamas.
Look father, most generous Kudalasangamadeva,
I am a son of Madara Chennayy’s family.

ಇವನಾರವ, ಇವನಾರವ, ಇವನಾರವ ನೆಂದೆನಿಸದಿರಯ್ಯಾ,
ಇವ ನಮ್ಮವ, ಇವ ನಮ್ಮವ, ಇವ ನಮ್ಮವ ನೆಂದೆನಿಸಯ್ಯಾ
ಕೂಡಲ ಸಂಗಮದೇವ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮಹಾ ಮನೆಯ ಮಗನೆಂದೆನಿಸಯ್ಯಾ.

Do not say “who is he”, “who is he”, and “who is he”?
Say that he is ours, he is ours, and he is ours,
Say that he is the son of Thy own house, O Kudalasangamadeva.

Do not say who is he? Who is he? Need to treat all human beings as sons & daughters of GOD’s home (world) (Mahamane); we need to welcome them just like our brothers & sisters since we all are children of GOD.

ಕೊಲ್ಲುವವನೆ ಮಾದಿಗ ಹೊಲಸು ತಿಂಬುವವನೆ ಹೊಲೆಯ,
ಕುಲವೇನು ಆವಂದರ ಕುಲವೇ,
ಸಕಲ ಜೀವಾತ್ಮರಿಗೆ ಲೇಸು ಬಯಸುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೂಡಲ ಸಂಗನ ಶರಣರೆ ಕುಲಜರು.

One who kills is a pariah (Madiga)
One who eats filth is indeed an inferior person (Holeya)
What has birth got to do with superior class or inferior class? (By birth all are equal)
Our lord Kudalasangamadeva’s Sharana’s indeed belong to the superior class as they wish for the welfare of all living beings.

Our Sharana’s are well-wishers of all living beings. Sharana’s are the real superior class. We should classify the people by their practice not by birth. One who is killing the living beings need classify as pariah. People who are eating the filth need to classify them as inferior class.

• In Lingayat all are equal;
• No man is high or low either by birth, sex or occupation.
• Woman has equal rights with man to follow the path of self-evolution.
• Universal brotherhood, Community approach (team work) and Practice before preach.
• Each one should follow a profession of his own choice.
• All Kayaka 's are honorable professions. No Kayaka is either low or high.
• Varnas (or castes) and Ashrams (or stages) are to be discarded.
• Renunciation and dwelling in forest are ruled out as cowardly tendencies to escape from life.
• Inter-group marriages and free dining should be encouraged.
• Untouchability has no place in the society.
• Every man is free to think on all spiritual and social subjects.
• Reason and experience are the only guiding lights for free thinking and spiritual advancement.
• Language of the people should be the medium for imparting spiritual and secular education.
• All men have equal rights to participate in spiritual discussions, to acquire spiritual knowledge and follow the same path of self evolution.