Jangam

Jangam is an order of wandering monks said to have been initiated by Mahadev in Kailas Parvat (modern day Himalayan range). As the faithful followers of life which is the 'dynamic' element of nature, Jangam people claim not to be confined to 'static' ideas, ideologies or any worldly schemes of social conscription. They feel this allows them to keep their conscience clear and progress towards 'self-realization'.Brahmins are the priests in all the temples expect Shivalayams(Shiva Temples).In most of the Shiva temples Jangams will perform pooja for Lord shiva.At the heart of Virashaivism is the opposition between sthavara, the standing, and jangama, the moving. Sthavara is a Sanskrit word from which the English words 'stand' and 'static' are derived, while jangama contains a cognate of the English 'go.' Jangama is moving, anything coming and going. The Jangama is the wandering holy man in Virashaivism. The divinity of the Jangama is reflected in many narrative stories in the Basava Purana and other collections, and in which the Jangama is actually Shiva. There are five founding Jangama preceptors, the pancacarya, who emerged from the five heads of Shiva before Brahma started to populate the world

Jangama's also called as Veerashaiva Brahmins.

The following subcastes are there in Lingayats.Lingayats: Jangam(Hiramath), Mathapathi, Panchamsali, Kudavakkaliga, Banajiga, Ganiga, Hugar, Kumbhar, Badigar, Navaliga (Hadapad), Madiwalar.The Jangams are at the top of the hierarchy among the Lingayats (3% of pop. and 2% of land) (:21). Panchamsalis (50% of pop. and 46.5% of land) and Kudavakkaliga (21.3% of pop. and 46.5% of land) are the two dominant subcastes. The two groups own an equal amount of land and have and equally important socio-economic position in the village. Among the Kudavakkaligas, there is strict avoidance of widow re-marriage.All Lingayat subcastes believe (a) that they are Lingayats; (b) they employ the ritual services of Jangam priests; (c) they observe no commensal restrictions and interdine except with Navaliga (Hadapad), Madiwal and Kimbhar; (d) they attend the marriage ceremonies held in their subcaste and help each other; and (e) owe their allegiance to Basavanna (:20). In the course of this study, we found that not even a single case is registered where the affinal relationship is established between different subcastes. These are highly closed groups from the point of view of connubiumJangam priest to officiate at rituals especially at the time of marriage.Jangamas replaced the Brahmin priests. The movement had considerable appeal and impact. Large number of people drawn from different social strata, particularly low castes, embraced Veerasaivism. The royal patronage and political positions which Basava enjoyed under Bijjala, the Jain king, was more than helpful in spreading the faith.

The visit of a Jangama to a home is a sacred event with much ritual and symbolism.He goes to the 'god-room' which has been purified with cow-dung paste and to which no member of the family can enter without bathing. His feet are washed by the head of the household and this dhulapadodaka (dhula meaning dust and padodaka meaning foot-water) is sprinkled over the people present and through the house in an act called mane santi, house-peace. The two big toes of the Jangama are adorned with vibhuti and patri leaves, and are worshipped with incense. Water or coconut milk is poured over the toes and collected underneath as karunaprasada, 'consecrated offering of compassion,' which the Jangama and the devotee drink. The Jangama and devotee then worship the istalinga. Though the istalinga is for sole worship and symbolically represents the devotee's personal purification and ultimate union with Shiva, it needs the Jangama to give it life, for he is a living Shiva.In the initiation rite of Jangama boys and in the marriage rite of all Virashaivas, the five pancacarya pitha, pontificial seats, are symbolized by five metal pots filled with water and betel leaves, linked together and tied to the main participants of the ritual by a thread. The pattadevaru Jangamas sit on a throne and wear gold, whereas the ascetic Jangamas sit on the skin of a wild tiger. On the prakara (outer) wall of Srisailam Temple we can see many carvings of Jangamas and some sit on living tigers. Basava and his deified form of Nandikesvara is an important symbol, especially with the virakta matha. He too is to be found on the prakara at Srisailam. The Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam is one of the five centres of the pancacarya and here are to be found not only the Jyoti linga but many forms of Shiva, and many gods and goddesses, especially on the prakara.

JANGAM The word Jangam is derived from the movable emblem (linga) of Lord Shiva. They migrated from Karnataka in order to propagate the Shaivite cult and to act as priests of those who follow shaivaite cult.Jangams are pure vegetarians and are forbidden to take fish,egg and mutton.They wear a lingam in a small casket of silver or copper or brass around the neck.They carry a cloth for blessing people tied beneath the shoulder.

As a JANGAM he has to visit all the Following Dwadasa Jyothirlingas in his lifespan.The names and the locations of the 12 Jyotirlingas are mentioned in the Shiva Purana.These shrines are:1. Somnath is the foremost of the twelve Jyotirlinga Shrines of Shiva. It is held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, tradition, and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat. 2. Mallikārjuna, also called Śrīśaila, is the name of the pillar located on a mountain on the river Krishna. Srisailam, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich. Adi Shankara composed his Sivananda Lahiri here. [citation needed] 3. Mahakal, Ujjain (or Avanti) in Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple. The Lingam at Mahakal is believed to be Swayambhu, the only one of the 12 Jyotirlingams to be so. It is also the only one facing south. 4. Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh on an island in the Narmada river is home to a Jyotirlinga shrine and the Amareshwar temple. 5. Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is the northernmost of the Jyotirlingas. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow-clad Himalayas, is an ancient shrine, rich in legend and tradition. It is accessible only by foot, and only for six months a year. 6. Bhimashankar, in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra, contains a Jyotirlinga shrine associated with Shiva destroying the demon Tripurasura. 7. Varanasi (Benares) in Uttar Pradesh is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling temple. 8. Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik in Maharashtra, has a Jyotirlinga shrine associated with the origin of the Godavari river. 9. Baidyanathdham in Deoghar, Jharkhand Vaidyanath Temple, also called Vaijnath Temple and Baidyanth Temple is located at Deogarh in the Santal Parganas region of Jharkhand in the south west of Keeul Station. 10. Nageshwar Temple, Dwarka in Gujarat is home to the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple. However, the term "daruka vane" in the shloka (religious verse) for Nageshwar has also been interpreted for Jageshwar, also situated in the Himalaya. Daruka vane means deodar forest. 11. Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is home to the vast Ramalingeswarar Jyotirlinga temple and is revered as the southernmost of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of India. It enshrines the Rameśvara ("Lord of Rama") pillar.12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga shrine, in Aurangabad Maharashtra, is located near the rock-cut temples of Ellora.

External links

* [http://www.veerashaiva.info/literature/prophets/prabhu-legacy.html Allama Prabhu - A True Jangam]
* [http://www.veerashaiva.info/literature/veerashaiva/ashta-avarana.html Jangam - An Important Avaran in Ashta-avarana]
* [http://saxakali.com/southasia/litrev7.htm South Asia]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/virash.html Encyclopedia]
* [http://www.mypurohith.com/Festivals/siva_rameswar.asp Siva Rameshwar]