Jangam

The Jangam (Telugu; ಜಂಗಮರು) or Jangamaru are a Shaiva order of religious monks. They are the priests (Gurus) of the Hindu Shaiva sect, Gurus of Veerashaiva sect and are disciples of Lord Shiva as mentioned in Basava Puranas. The meaning of word Jangam is 'moving linga'. 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. Jangam are pure vegetarians and are forbidden to touch any non vegetarian food items, including eggs. Jangams Sages: claim they originated from a part (thigh) of Lord Shiva's body. 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". The Jangam sages go from one place to another and explain the different saints the story of the holy union of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Another version is that Lord Shiva at his wedding created two recipients of his alms, one Jangam, from the sweat of his brow, the other Lingam, from his thigh. According to Hinduism "Shiva had blessed the Jangams with immortality (i.e., entire world is destroyed by nature or some other factors to destroyed the nature, Jangam will Live) but declared that they would live by Religious Begging in Lord Shiva temples (by priest, religious prayer, prayer for healing, and Guru) after some religious event completed by them in Prayer in Hinduism." They known as 'Jangam' ('Jangam Sages') in Himalayas and Maharashtra, as 'Jangam Ayya' in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and as Swamy, Tata, in Karnataka. They also known as 'Jangam Veerashaiva Pandaram' is Tamil Nadu and Kerala , Jangam Jogi in Haryana, and Jangam Deva in Andhra Pradesh.