Lingayatism or Lingayat(a) is a religion that was founded in the 12th century by Guru Basavanna who was a "Brahmin by birth". It is a religion like Buddism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism etc by virtue of having its own metaphysical theories, which differ from Advaita, Dvaita and Visistadvaita of Vedanta. The Philosophy of this religion is known as Shoonyasiddhanta. Yoga or the path of meditation is known as Lingangyoga, which differs from all other Indian yogas. but at the same time is a harmonious confluence of all other yogas, including Kundalini yoga. Scriptural texts of Lingayatism are the Vachana's and the literature based on Vachana sahitya.
ನಮಗೆ ಲಿಂಗವುಂಟು,
ನಾವು ಲಿಂಗವಂತರೆಂದು ನುಡಿವರು.
ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರಳಿ ಭವಿಶೈವದೈವಂಗಳಿಗೆರಗುವ
ಈ ಮಂಗಮಾನವರನೇನೆಂಬೆನಯ್ಯಾ,
ಕಲಿದೇವಯ್ಯಾ.