Lingayat Seer Resigns from Karnataka Mutt After Devotees Learn He is a Muslim

Bangalore Mail Staff Reporter

Chamarajanagar, Karnataka: A 22-year-old Lingayat seer, Nijalinga Swamy, was forced to step down from his position at a mutt in Gundlupet taluka on Monday after villagers raised objections upon discovering his Muslim background.

The controversy began when a local resident reportedly accessed the seer’s Aadhaar card, which revealed his birth name, Mohammed Nisar. Within days, some devotees expressed their displeasure, claiming they were unaware of his background before his appointment.

Nijalinga Swamy, who had been serving as the head of the newly established Gurumalleshwara Shakha Mutt for six weeks, took Basava deeksha (religious initiation) at the age of 17. Originally from Yadgir district, he had dedicated himself to promoting the teachings of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna through vachanas (devotional poems) across Karnataka.

“I was born in a Muslim family but was drawn to Basavanna’s ideas from an early age,” Swamy told Bangalore Mail. “Even as a child, I performed pujas like any Lingayat. My parents, worried about my devotion, sent me to a madrassa. But my faith in Basavanna only grew stronger, and at 17, I took deeksha to become a Lingayat.”

How the Controversy Unfolded

The Gurumalleshwara Shakha Mutt was built on land donated by Mahadev Prasad, an Australia-based philanthropist. Swamy was chosen for the position on the recommendation of his guru, given his prior service at a mutt in Basavakalyan, Bidar.

However, the dispute erupted last week when an employee of the mutt borrowed one of Swamy’s old mobile phones. Upon accessing the device, the employee allegedly found his Aadhaar card, old photographs of Nisar wearing a skullcap, and another image showing him holding a beer bottle. The information quickly spread among devotees, leading to mounting pressure on Swamy to resign.

The young seer admitted his previous identity but denied engaging in any inappropriate conduct after his religious conversion. “Some people have spread false rumors, including allegations of financial misappropriation, but none of it is true,” he said.

Support and Shelter in Another Mutt

Despite the backlash, Nijalinga Swamy has received support from several Lingayat seers and community members. He has now found refuge in a mutt in Rane Bennur, Haveri district.

“I left my parents and my previous faith only because I believe in Basavanna’s ideology,” he said. “I will continue to follow his teachings and no one can stop me from doing so.”

Religious scholars note that some Muslims in North Karnataka have historically followed Basavanna’s egalitarian philosophy, and a few have even formally embraced Lingayat traditions through deeksha.

As the controversy continues, Nijalinga Swamy says his focus remains unwavering: “I will dedicate my life to spreading Basavanna’s message of equality.”