Jangam
The Jangam or Jangamuru or veerashaiva Jangam a Shaiva order of religious monks. They are the priests of the Veerashaiva or Lingayatism, and are disciples of Shiva as mentioned in Basava Puranas. Jangamas were originally Vedic Shaiva Brahmins, from the same background as Basavanna, who is also identified as a Shaiva Brahmin. In the 12th century, these Brahmins became priests of the emerging Lingayat faith, and over time this Brahmins become known as Jangamas.
Etymology
The meaning of word Jangam is 'moving linga'. Jangama is one who is endowed with true spirit of Agamic knowledge, and has sacrificed his life for giving Samskara character building practices in all sections of the Hindu society. Jangams, a Shaiva order of religious monks and priests of the Hindu Shaiva sect, are not considered part of the traditional chaturvarna system of Hinduism. Jangams are also known as Jangam Brahmins perform the duties of priests of Shivalinga, and treated as lord shiva themselves and Jangams praised and worshipped by Brahmins also and Jangams are not only Priests but also they are Rishis, Pandits and Poeters and Writers also.Jangamas mostly until 1900s did not inter marry with other Lingayaths as they were considered pure lines compared to other Lingayaths who were converts from other casts.When the British classified Lingayaths as Shudras, a category of Jangamas known as Aradhyas protested against this as they were considered equal to Brahmins; in fact, they claimed to be better than Brahmins as most of the mainstream Brahmins were considered low class before Acharyas like Madhva, Ramanuja and Shankara.
In fact even to this day most Madhva Brahmins consider all other Brahmins as inferior. Vaishnava Brahmins consider Srivaishnava Brahmins as inferior and most of them do not consider Saraswats as Brahmins.
Aradhya Jangamas even went to Bombay high court regarding this and the court ruled that all Jangamas must be classified under Brahmins and to be listed as Linga Brahmins in census.
When Brahmins of Hydrabad opposed Aradhya Jangamas being priests in temples, they went to Nizam of Hyderabad and a Shastrartha was set up to conclude the issue. After Shastrartha they had to accept Aradhya Jangamas as priests and the Nizam of Hydrabad restored the rights of Aradhya Jangamas.
However Brahmin community agreed to consider Aradhya Jangamas as Brahmins, if they did not associate themselves with other Lingayaths. By the time all these negotiations happened, tides changed and people moved forward abandoning all caste based distinction. Thus the movement lost its momentum.
Profession
Jangama is a community who are engaged in professions like priestly hood, religious preachings, some in various kings courts as advisors and some designated positions in various parts of north and south India. Jangams are pure vegetarians and are forbidden to touch any non vegetarian food items, including eggs.Veerashaiva Jangama as known today was popular as Kalamukha Jangama around 8-12th century prior to Veerashaiva movement started in Andhra pradesh, which later extend in Karnataka widely. Jangams are also gurus of KshatriyasJangamas were Rajagurus to many dynasties which include Chola, Hoysala, Chalukya, Vijayanagara.Vijayanagara empire also had Kriyashakthi Yateeshwara, a Jangama guru of Kalamukha sect. But in Kakatiya dynasty Kings, Queens and Rajagurus were both Kalamukha Jangamas. Kalamukhas were known for their high intellectual ability across various fields. The monasteries of Kalamukhas existed even before Shankaracharya. Some mutts are survived even for today, while many are lost in invasions.
History
Jangams Sages claim they originated from a part of Shiva's body. According to Hinduism, "Shiva wanted to give some donation to Brahma and Vishnu but when they refused he became so angry that it led to his creating the Jangam Sages".The Jangam sages go from one place to another and explain the different saints the story of the holy union of Shiva and Parvati. Another version is that Shiva at his wedding created two recipients of his alms, one Jangam, from the sweat of his brow, the other Lingam, from his thigh.
According to Hinduism, "Shiva had blessed the Jangams with immortality but declared that they would live by Religious Begging in Shiva temples after some religious event completed by them in Prayer in Hinduism."
They known as 'Jangam' in Himalayas and Maharashtra, as 'Jangam Ayya' in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and as Swamy, Tata in Karnataka. They also known as 'Jangam Veerashaiva Pandaram' is Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Jangam Jogi in Haryana, and Jangam devara and veerashaiva Jangam in Andhra Pradesh. In Nepal different names given to the wandering Shivite mendicants who are believed to be descendants of the original 'Jangam'. In most of Shiva temples the Jangams perform the Pooja as per ParameswarAgama. The Jangam priests may preside over all rituals however special regard is given to marriage rites in Lingayatism and Shaivism section of Hinduism.
Jangama Acharya in [Telangana]
Jangams hold intellectual history refers to the historiography of ideas and thinkers. Jangam community were traditional religious mendicant class were considered auspicious in early time but during the colonial period were reduced to poverty. Most Jangama Devaras falls under priestly class of Agamic practices and understand difficult ideas, subjects and use knowledge to expand services as government advisors and political advisors. Jangama is one who is endowed with true spirit of Agamic knowledge, and has sacrificed his life for giving Samskaras character.Jangam in [Tamil Nadu]
The Jangam people living in Tamil Nadu are actually native speakers of Telugu. They are called Linga Balija or Lingayat Balija in Andhra Pradesh, Linga Banajiga or Lingayat Banajiga in Karnataka and Linga Vadugar or Lingayat Vadugar in Tamil Nadu. Linga Balija people appoint priests from within their own community and the appointed priests are called Jangam. Jangam community is one of the subdivisions of Linga Balija. The kings of Vijayanagara were waging a war to free Madurai from the clutches of the Madurai Sultans, and when they came, they brought with them a wide variety of people, including the people of Linga Balija. People of Tamil Nadu called Balija people as Vadugar and Linga Balija people as Linga Vadugar. Veerashaivism was widespread in Tamil Nadu even before the Vijayanagara Empire came to Tamil Nadu. Veerashaivism or Lingayatm is not the name of a community but rather a cult.In Tamil Nadu, the Pandarams are the Veerashaivas. As the people of Linga Balija Jangam also followed Veerashaiva Lingayat principles, the people of Linga Balija were called by many names like Lingadari Jangamar, Lingadari Pandaram, Lingangatti Pandaram, Linga Pandaram, Linga Vadugar, Lingayat, Lingayat Naidu, Linga Balija, Linga Poo Pandaram and then they started to call them generally as pandaram.Jangam people living in Tamil Nadu follow certain rituals. The "Linga Pooja" and "Kula Deiva Pongal" are the main ceremony in the marriage among Jangam. Most of Hindus cremate the dead, but in Jangam, the dead are buried. The dead are buried with their Ishta linga in their hand in a simple sitting cross-legged dhyana position. Unlike other Hindus, whose functions are presided by Brahmins, in jangam tradition 'Jangam Bhandari' a Head priest specifically for jangams will preside the marriage and funeral.
Jangam in [Kerala]
Jangam is the Telugu equivalent of Pandaram. Malayalam. They are said to have migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu but their mother tongue is Telugu.Jangam Acharya in [Karnataka]
Veerashaivism contains two sections, one the ancient race of Veerashaiva jangam and the Lingayat which constitutes all different working classes who later changed their way of life as lingayatism, a sect of Hinduism. They believe in formless god in form of Ista-Linga and no other idol. The Jangam Lingayat are known as Lingayath, True Shivavatari, Movable Lingam, Jangam Sage, Jangama, Lingayat, Jangam Acharya in Shiva temples in Karnataka.The lingayata movement and vachanas form an integral part of Karnataka lingayata community. The main names related to the movement are Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Dohara Kakkayya, Haralayya, Aaydakki Lakkamma and Madara Chennayya. This movement had many philosophies attached to it, example: work is worship 'kayakave kailasa', dignity of labour, gender equality, no caste discrimination, considering one's body as temple, importance to transition, change, movement in contrast to something that is stationary 'sthavarakkalivuntu, jangamakkalivilla'. This movement was similar to bhakti movement of vaishanava community where sharanas or jangamas wrote and sang philosophical songs in Kanada language.