8–11 years, the child receives Diksha from the family Guru to know the proper procedure to perform pooja of ishtalinga. From birth to death, the child wears the Linga at all times and it is worshipped as a personal ishtalinga. The Linga is wrapped in a cloth housed in a small silver and wooden box. It is to be worn on the chest, over the seat of the indwelling deity within the heart. Some people wear it on the chest or around the body using a thread. Vegetarianism Lingayats are strict vegetarians. Devout Lingayats do not consume beef, or meat of any kind including fish. The drinking of liquor is prohibited. Militancy The early Lingayat literature, including the Basava Purana, highly praises militant action against anyone who persecutes a fellow Lingayat or their ability to practice their Shiva-bhakti traditions. According to Schouten, one of earliest assassinations in retaliation for persecution happened in the 12th-century when King Bijjala was murdered. However, states Schouten, the early texts of Lingayats give different accounts on who ordered the assassination leading to doubts about the trustworthiness of these historic texts. Temples and rites of passage Lingayats believe that the human body is a temple. In addition, they have continued to build the community halls and Shaiva temple traditions of South India. Their temples include Shiva linga in the sanctum, a sitting Nandi facing the linga, with mandapa and other features. However, the prayers and offerings are not led by Brahmin priests but by Lingayat priests. The temple format is simpler than those of Jains and Hindus found in north Karnataka. In some parts of Karnataka, these temples are samadhis of Lingayat saints, in others such as the Veerabhadra temple of Belgavi – one of the important pilgrimage sites for Lingayats, and other historic temples, the Shiva temple is operated and maintained by Lingayat priests. Many rural Lingayat communities include the images of Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha in their wedding invitations, while Ganesha festivities are observed by both rural and urban Lingayats in many parts of Karnataka. Colonial-era reports by British officials confirm that Lingayats observed Ganesha Chaturthi in the 19th century. Festivals They celebrate most of the Hindu festivals and their own festivals; Makara Sankranti Yugadi Nagara Panchami Rakshabhandana Ganesh Chaturthi Navaratri (Dasara, a ten-day, nine-night festival) Deepa Siddharameshawar Jayanti Solapur (14 January: Sankranti) Allamaprabhu Jayanti (Ugadi) Maha Shivaratri Basava Jayanti Akkamahadevi Jayanti Basava Panchami