In ''

Lingayat Lingayatism or Veera Saivism is a Hindu denomination based on Shaivism. Initially known as ''Veerashaivas'', since the 12th-century adherents of this faith are known as ''Lingayats''. The terms ''Lingayatism'' and ''Veerashaivism'' have been ...

'' theology, the ''Ashtavaranas'' (ಅಷ್ಟಾವರಣ, ಎಂಬಗೆ, ಎಂಟು ಬಗೆ) refer to the eight virtues that act as shields or coverings protecting the devotee from extraneous distractions and influences of ''

Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a popul ...

''. ''Ashta'' means 'eight' and ''Avarana'' means 'covering'. They also protect against attachment to worldly desires. The ''Ashtavaranas'' are described as, * ''

Guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...

'' * ''Linga Ishta-Linga'' * '' Jangama'' * ''

Vibhuti In Hinduism, ''vibhuti'' ( sa, विभूति, vibhūti), also called ''bhasma'' or ''thiruneeru'', is sacred ash made of burnt dried wood, burnt cow dung and/or cremated bodies used in Agamic rituals. Hindu devotees apply ''vibhuti'' tradi ...

or Bhasma'' * ''

Rudraksha ''Rudraksha'' (IAST: ') refers to a stonefruit, the dried stones of which are used as prayer beads by Hindus (especially Shaivas), as well as by Buddhists and Sikhs. When they are ripe, ''rudraksha'' stones are covered by an inedible blue ou ...

'' * '' Padodaka'' * ''

Prasada 200px, Prasad thaal offered to Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad ">Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad">Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad Prasada (, Sanskrit: प्रसाद, ), Prasadam or Prasad is a religious offering in Hinduism. Most o ...

'' * ''

Mantra A mantra ( Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ...

'' Among the ashtavarnas, Guru, Linga and Jangama are the human beings to be worshiped. Guru means religious teacher at some stage his own conscious (arivu) can also become guru. Linga is considered to be the self (inner atma). and Lastly the Jangama is the human who wonders and propagates the teachings of dharma. Vibhuti, Mantra and Rudraksha are the things, by which one has to worship Guru, Linga and Jangama. Vibhuti is the indication of purity. It also means that it is burnt ash of interest towards other woman, Gold and Land. Mantra is the holy chanting words. Normally Lingayats chant " OM SHRI GURUBASAVA LINGAYA NAMAH" and some chant " OM NAMAH SHIVAYA". Rudraksha is the thing one has to wear on the body. Rudraksha are available in punchamukhi and Ekmukhi Rudrakshas. In spiritually it is the symbol of third eye of "MAHADEVA" or "SHIVA". Here it can be interpreted as inner conscious, which plays as third eye. Lastly Padaodaka and Prasada are the outcomes of this worship. Padodaka is the liquid, and Prasad is food. Here spiritually one can interpret Padodaka as the knowledge outcome from Guru, Linga and Jangama's when they discuss daily concerns with their ''Anubhava'' (experience). Prasad is the daily food accepted after the worship.

Sources

* Patil, S H, 2002: ''Community Dominance and Political Modernisation - The Lingayats'' (p 24 ff). Mittal Publications: New Delhi Lingayatism {{Karnataka-stub