The Revival of Market Economy and the Veerashaiva Movement in Ancient India

Abstract

The Veerashaiva movement or the Lingayat movement was a powerful Shaivite movement. This movement was born in northwestern Karnataka in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Later on, it also spread to all parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The main feature of this movement was the opposition to traditional Brahminism, which in particular had divided the society into stricter caste classes and kept it level. Public opposition to idolatry was also another feature of this movement. At the time of his birth, the Veerashaiva movement believed completely in brotherhood and was openly opposed to the caste system. The followers of this movement did not believe in any kind of caste discrimination. But soon this community also developed social exclusivity on the basis of birth privileges and occupational purity, in the same way that Brahminism-based varna system was in force among other Hindus. While the followers of this sect were initially strongly against any kind of discrimination at caste or level.