Karnataka: Third Panchamasali peetha launch in Bagalkot today

BENGALURU: The third Panchamasali peetha will be launched in Bagalkot district on Sunday, but some of the prominent seers and community leaders are likely to give it a miss.
The community leaders who were instrumental in establishing the first two peethas (mutts) have decided to disassociate themselves with all three peethas, alleging that politicians are using these religious platforms for electoral gain.
“It is unfortunate the peethas have fallen into the hands of politicians. We have decided not to support any one of them,” said GB Parti, who was general secretary of Veerashaiva Lingayat Pancahamasali Sangha that took the initiative to establish Kudalasangama Lingayat Peetha and Harihara Panchamasali Jagadguru Peetha simultaneously in February 2008.
Patil, along with several leaders including former minister PC Siddanagouda Patil, the late former MP SB Sidnal, and writer Siddalinga Desai, was in the forefront of establishing the peethas for uniting the community.
The launch of the third peetha will be at Aalaguru village in Jamakhandi taluk of Bagalkot. Mahadeva Shivacharya, seer of Babalaswara Brihanmatha, will ascend the pontiff’s throne.
“We will hold a farmers’ rally as part of the event in which more than one lakh people will attend,” said BJP MLC Sangamesh Nirani, brother of industries minister Murugesh Nirani.
The community that accounts for about 60% of the 1.1 crore population of Veerashaiva-Lingayats is seen to be politically powerful, thanks to its decisive votebank in north Karnataka. Seventeen MLAs are from the community.
The fissures among community leaders started showing up after three MLAs — Murugesh Nirani, Aravind Bellad and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal — made known their aspirations to become chief minister. The third peetha is seen to be a fallout of the rat race among the three.
Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami, pontiff of Kundalasangama Peetha, blamed Nirani as the man behind the third peetha who is trying to push his political goal. “I had told Nirani that we would support all three leaders and their chief ministerial ambitions but he became envious and decided to set up a third peetha,” claimed the swamiji.
Nirani along with Yatnal and Bellad was in the forefront when the pontiff launched a padayatra last year seeking 2A category reservation for Panchamasalis, but distanced himself after he was made a minister.
The seer went ahead with the support of Yatnal and Congress functionary Vijayananda Kashappanavar, who eventually took over as national president of the Panchamasali organisation.