Bagalkot: After a married Muslim man was inducted as a seer in one of the Lingayat Mutts of the state, in a revolutionary and histroic move, a mutt in Jamakandi inducted a Kuruba woman as a pontiff and its chief on Friday.
Neelamma Taayi of the Kuruba (shepherd) community was anointed at Basava Kendra Mahant Mutt in Mareguddi-Budni PM village. She will now be called Vijaya Mahantamma Taayi.
The move is in sync with the preaching of social reformer Basavanna, who founded the Lingayat sect and also spoke of a casteless society and equality of all human beings.
Over 15,000 devotees and 20 Lingayat seers were present to see the ceremony.
The 47-year-old woman had taken the initiation at the age of 15 and had been teaching at the mutt’s primary school since 2010.
Former minister and MLC Basavaraj Horatti, who attended the ceremony, said while women have been heading mutts of the Jagadguru tradition, this is the first time a mutt of the Virakta (renouncement) school has chosen a woman pontiff.
Mahant Swamiji of Chittaragi Sansthan Mutt in Ilkal, who administered the ‘Shatsthala Upadesha’ to Neelamma, called it a revolutionary step.
“A woman from the Kuruba community heading a Lingayat mutt is a dream of the Sharanas of the 12th century. Lingayats upheld gender equality even 900 years ago but sadly, society continues to discriminate against them,” TOI quoted Mahant Swamiji.
