Bengaluru: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on August 3, 2022, visited Sri Murugharajendra Mutt in Karnataka’s Chitradurga and received ‘Linga Deeksha’ from one of its seers. Shri Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to the Mutt along with senior party leaders and KPCC President Shri D.K. Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary (Org.) Shri K.C Venugopal.

While speaking to the seers in the Mutt, Shri Rahul Gandhi said, “I have been following and reading a little about Basavanna ji for some time now. So, it’s a real honour for me to be here.”

“It is an absolute honour to visit Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha and receive the ‘Ishtalinga Deekshe’ from Dr. Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru”, earlier Shri Rahul Gandhi tweeted. This ritual is usually performed by people belonging to the Lingayat community by wearing an Ishtalinga made up of crystal. The Lingayats make up about 17 per cent of Karnataka’s population. But with his visit to the Mutt, Shri Rahul Gandhi would be hoping to broaden the Congress’ appeal in the state.

The dominant Lingayat sect was founded in the 12th century by social reformer and poet Basaveshwara, who has a huge following in Karnataka and some neighbouring regions of the state such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.