Jangam

Jangama is one who is endowed with true spirit of Agamic knowledge, and has sacrificed his life for giving Samskara (good) character building practices in all sections of the Hindu society.

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.

According 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".

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.

The Jangam priests may preside over all rituals however special regard is given to marriage rites in Lingayatism and Shaivism section of Hinduism.

Jangam community were traditional religious mendicant class were considered auspicious in early time but during the colonial period were reduced to poverty.

Jangama is one who is endowed with true spirit of Agamic knowledge, and has sacrificed his life for giving Samskaras (good) character.

In ancient days jangamas were placed to maintain the jewels of Shiva temples and palaces in Tamil Nadu.

The "Linga Pooja" ("Lingadharanam") and "Kula Deiva Pongal" are the main (must) ceremony in the marriage among Jangam Pandarams.

The main names related to the movement are Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Dohara Kakkaiyya, Haralayya, Aaydakki Lakkamma and Madara Chennayya.

The members of this community are wandering mendicants and earn their living mainly by performing the element in Shiva temples.

The community is concentrated in and around Kurukshetra, the great battle field of the epic of Mahabharata and in the historical town of Thaneswar which has been a strong centre of the Pasupati (Shiva) tradition of Shaivism.

There is a stone inscription belonging to Nepali Year 692, which explains the role of Hari Singh Dev Mall of mallavansa, who renovated the Jangam math in Bhaktapur.

The oldest document of land grant to this math was made by a Hindu Raja, Jainanad Deo, ruler of Kashi in V.S.

2.Jahangir's relations with Goswami's of Jangambari Math of Benaras2 Jahangir came into contact with Jangamas, when he was in revolt against his father during 45th regnal year of Akbar i.e in 1600 A.D. at Allahabad.

It was addressed to the āmils, jagirdars and karosis of pargana Haveli Banaras, confirming 178 bighas of land as grant in favour of Malik Arjunmal Jangam.

2.Aurangzeb's Relations with Goswami's of Jangambari Math of Benaras3 Aurangzeb carried on the traditions of his forefathers in granting favours to Hindu religious communities, a continuity underscored by his dealings with the Jangam, a Shaivite group.

The same Jangam received several farmans from Aurangzeb that restored land that had been unfairly confiscated (1667), protected them from a disruptive local Muslim (1672), and returned illegally charged rent (1674).

They were hunters and bird-trappers and originally belong to Andhra Pradesh and settled in Karnataka where they are called Budaga Jangam.

Traditionally, officiating priests for some of the Holeya and Madiga communities, they are religious mendicants, soothsayers, and wage labourers as well.

Pancha peethadhishas represent five faces of Shiva and considered highest class of Jangams, dedicate themselves to celibacy.

When a Jangam goes begging, he wears a garter of bells called Jang below his right knee, and carries a cobra cane.

The Istalinga is made up of small blue-black stone coated with fine durable thick black paste of cow dung ashes mixed with some suitable oil to withstand wear and tear.

Veershaiva Jangams celebrate a Hindu festivals, namely, Deepavali, Shivaratri, Ugadi, Nagarpanchmai, Kollipaki Adi Jagadguru and Renukàcharya jayanti etc.

In the performance, the main artist (Jangams) narrates a religious Hindu story, plays music and dance on the tunes.

Jangama dhyana is an ancient Jangam meditation technique which involves concentrating the mind and sight between the eyebrows.

In Jangam dance, the dancers recite verses of Girija kalyana on the mythological marriage of Siva and Parvati.

Their dramatic presence is heightened by their headgear, a brass band with the image of a snake and peacock feathers flashing in the air.