Wikipedia
Veerashaiva is an independent religion worshipping Lord Shiva, and it believes in the supremacy of siva. It does not believe in caste system. Historical Vedic Brahminist revisionists have tried to misinterpret this form as worship as Vedic and Brhaminical. However, recently the various Maths of Veerashaivaites have asked for recognition as separate sect.
According to popular view, and one backed by historical and literary evidence, the Veerashaiva sect was founded by the Panchacharyas or the Five Teachers. This view however, is in the realm of mythology and this mythology is supported by historical and literary evidence those are available at Allahabad High Court and Jangamwadimath of Kashi.
It is believed that the Panchacharyas arose out of five great Sthavaralingas located in Balehonnur in Karnataka, Ujjini in Karnataka, Kedar in Uttarakhand, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and Kashi or Banaras in Uttar Pradesh under different names in different Yugas.
The five Panchacharyas are
- Renukaradhya
- Dharukaas
- Ekoramaradhya or Ekorama
- Panditaradhya
- Vishwaradhya