Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Initiated Into Lingayat Sect in Karnataka

Rahul Gandhi at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt (or Muruga Mutt) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

Chitradurga (Karnataka):

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mentioned he obtained initiated into the Lingayat sect by the seer of Muruga Mutt right here within the presence of assorted social gathering leaders. After Mr Gandhi’s assembly with Lingayat seers, the top of the Mutt, Shivamurthy Muruga Sharana, carried out the ritual. 

“It’s an absolute honour to go to Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha and obtain the ‘Ishtalinga Deekshe’ from Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru”, Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier, a seer on the seminary mentioned Rahul Gandhi shall be Prime Minister, however the head seer intervened and added a caveat to the blessing. 

Mr Gandhi was in a gathering with the seers when one in all them, Haveri Hosamutt Swami, referred to his grandmother and father — each of whom remained Prime Minister — in his speech, and mentioned, “Indira Gandhiji was PM, Rajiv Gandhi PM, and now Rahul Gandhi has been initiated into Lingayat sect, and he’ll grow to be the PM.”

At this, Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, president of the establishment, interrupted: “Please do not say this… This isn’t the platform. Folks will resolve.”

It’s an absolute honour to go to Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha and obtain the ‘Ishtalinga Deekshe’ from Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.

The teachings of Guru Basavanna are everlasting and I’m humbled to study extra about it from the Sharanaru of the Math. pic.twitter.com/5Dgj53roSp

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 3, 2022

The Lingayats, about 17 per cent of Karnataka’s inhabitants, have historically been BJP voters. With Mr Gandhi’s go to to the poll-bound state, the Congress is hoping to broaden its enchantment and undertaking unity throughout the social gathering too. The elections should be held by Might subsequent yr.

The Lingayat sect — about 17 per cent of Karnataka’s inhabitants — was based within the 12th century by social reformer and poet Basaveshwara, who has an enormous following in some neighbouring areas of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as properly.

Incumbent Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and his predecessor BS Yeddiyurappa come from the sect, which is especially dominant within the northern districts of the state.