Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/67

 LINGAYETS. (421–2)

E include the above two numbers in one page and article, because the figures represented belong to the same class, which comprises a very large proportion of the population of Southern and South-Western India. The sect is termed Lingayet, and arose at the then existing capital city of Kulliani, in the Deccan, in the twelfth century, Kulliani, from a very early period, considerably beyond the Christian era, had been the capital of the Chalukya dynasty, whose dominions extended from the Nerbudda to the north, over a great portion of Southern India; but in the eleventh century it began to decline, and was finally subdued by the Yadavas of Deogurh, the modern Dowlutabad. Subsequently the possession of Kulliani was obtained by the Kala Bhuryas, who had been feudal vassals of the Chalukyas, and Vijala, the head of the family, took up his residence at Kulliani. In his service there was a person of the name of Bussava, or Bussappa, a Brahmin of humble parentage, born at the village of Bagawadi, in the talook of Moodibehal, or, as some assert, in Inglesh war, not far distant. He was highly educated by his father, Mahdeo Bhut, and at an early age distinguished himself by his skill in religious disputations and knowledge of Brahminical priestcraft. In consequence of the reputation both had gained, they were invited by Vijala Kala Bhurya to his capital, where the young Bussappa speedily attained high reputation. His sister, Pudmawati was very beautiful, and though a Jam himself; the Rajah married her, and Bussappa was elevated to the rank of Danda Naik, or commander of the army, and eventually the Rajah gave up all exclusive authority to him. He then commenced to disseminate a new creed, of which he asserted he was an apostle from God, which was directly antagonistic to Hindoo belief and Brahminical doctrine, inasmuch as it rejected caste and forbade idolatry, the only object of adoration being the linga, or emblem of creative power, which was never to be absent from the person of the believer. The doctrine was purely theistic, in the person of Siva; and all other members of the Hindoo Pantheon were dispensed with. Bussappa's preaching of the new creed was wonderfully successful; it