VIRA-SAIVA, Hindu worshippers of the god Siva. They are divided into two sects, one semi Brahmanical or High Church, called Aradhya ; the other is anti-Brahmanical, and is called Jan gam. The Aradhya claim t,o be descendants of Saivite Brahmans, and between them and the Srnartta Brahmans there is a certain degree of reluctant intercourse, founded upon the rites of initiation (Upanayanam) which both parties use.
The Vira-Saiva form a subdivision of the Saiva, worshipping only the male energy. The other Saiva associate the Yoni, or female energy, with the linga. The origin of this sect is attributed to Basava, minister of a king of Kalyana, in the 12th century. He is fabled to have been an incarnation of the sacred bull Nandi, the vehicle of Siva. Allama Prabhu, afterwards regarded as an incarnation of Siva, NV CIS associated with him. The Vira-Saiva wear a small linga, enclosed in a metal case. Hence they are called Lingaet or Lingadhari. Vira is derived froni a word denot ing bravery. They nearly exterminated the Jaina in some parts of the Dekhan. Sometimes they are called Jangama, from Jangama, motion, claiming to be living symbols of deity. The mendicants often lead about a bull, the living type of the vahan bull of Siva.
Vedantists all bury the dead, also all the Gosai, all the Lingaet or Vira-Saiva, the five artisan castes, the Kansala, goldsmith, carpenter, iron smith, brazier, and stone-cutter, all the Byragi and Sanyasi, and the gurus of the sects ; likewise all the non-Aryan races, and tribes not admitted into Hinduism. The Vedantists' dead, and those
of the Lingaet artisans, are piaced seated in a grave five feet square with a ledge on the south. As life becomes extinct, the body is made to ssume the attitude to be preserved in the pro wssion and in the grave. It is placed against a vall, the legs are crossed underneath in the usual itting attitude, and the head is fastened to a nail triven into tho wall, and so retained till rigidity nstie. They are borne to the grave in a car, on lio shoulders of relatives or friends. On reaching he burial-place, the Udwan reads prayers, and he body is seated on the side ledge with its face ooking northwards ; salt and ashes of cow-dung ire placed on the head.
The Vira-Saiva are chiefly found where Canareso s spoken. A few of their books have been printed n Tamil,—Apisheka Malai, Nedungkalinedil, Kurungkalinedil, Nirangana Malai, and Kaittala falai. These aro by Siva Pirakasa. Tesikar, who ived about the 17th century. They were printed n a small pamphlet by Saravana Perumal Iyer. The first treats of the anointing of the Epp, specifying what articles may be offered. A small linga is 3ften placed on the hand, considered as an altar. This is the subject of tho last work. The others uontain praises of Siva, for repetition during his worship.—Brown's Essay on the Jangams.