Siddharameshwara - Saint of Virasaivism

Dr. Nalini Avinash Waghmare Department of NISS Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune Mobile No: 9975833748 Email: [email protected]

Introduction: Among the immortals Siddharama Charitra, 's of Virasaivism, Siddharameshwara Prabhudevara Ragale, Bhimakaviya finds a distinguished place along with Basavapurana, Jayadevi Lingade, Basavanna, Chennbasavanna, Siddharameshwara Purana etc. In all Prabhudeva and others. Siddharama these Virasaiva prose, Kavya and was one of the well known personali- we find the mentioned the ties of the twelfth century. He was a name of Siddharameshwara. In the devotee of god and belonged probably Sunyasampadane the third and the to the Lakulisa-Pasupatha Shaiva sect. tenth chapter are devoted to him. He was a social worker with the zeal of a missionary. He was certainly an Vachana is another important historical person. Since references to and relatively modern source of him are found as Siddharama of Virasaiva literature and Sonnalige, the present Sholapur, Vachanakaras.Vachana literature con- Maharashtra. Here can be seen to this tains the compositions of Devar day the Lingas he installed. The tem- Dasimayya, . ples and tanks he built and other Basaveshwara, Channabasaveshwara, relics of his activity. Siddharameshwara, , etc. Vachana literature is also called Sources : There are many sources Vachanadeva. Vachanas are Agama - which under the authentic sources oriented. Therefore, it is also called Palkurike Somanatha's Someshwara Vachanagama. Both the term - Purana, Virakta Tontadarya's work Vachana and Vachanagama, are used Siddheshwara Purana, for Vachana literature. Vachanas are Shantalingeshwara Bhairaveshwara also authoritative and authentic Kavyakatha Ratnakara, sources of Virasaiva religion form the Lakkanna Dandesa's Sivatatva- point of view of history and literature. Chintamani, 's These Vachanas also focuses on

93 Siddharameshwara thoughts and reli- bound for Srisaila. gion. Not only Literary but some of 22 inscriptions give us information After his return from Srisaila about the Siddharama of Sholapur Siddharama left the family of his birth under the inscription Budasingi, for good. He took to the life of renun- Ghadalsnur etc. In these inscriptions ciation, and established a , 1190 along with along with his brother. Once he Kapilsiddhamallikarjuna mentioned. It underwent spiritual transformation, he shows that he was the contemporary gave up his allegiance to the tradition- of Basavanna. al Desi deity of Makala.

Brief life of Siddharameshwara: He In his place, he enshrined Lord Kapila was one of the outstanding Siddhamallikarjuna in his heart, as his Vachanakara. There are many personal deity. Siddharama was a Vachanas , inscriptions , legends and great social worker in his time. narratives about his life. He was born Siddharama had a desire to convert in Sonnalige (Sholapur in present day Sholapur into another Srisaila. It was Maharashtra). Muddagowda was his in the realization of this aspiration father and Suggle his mother. Dhooli that he set about the establishment of Maakala was the deity of his family. Linga , the building of a temple for it, Parents named him Dhuli Maakala as surrounded by a tank. He was the he was born with the blessings of head of a monastery and had a large Revannasiddha and later on he following. His place Sonnalige became well-known as Siddharama (Sholapur of Maharastra) was a small when he followed Nathasiddha tradi- village; he built it into a big town. He tion. In his beyond days he was constructed numerous temples in cowherd and a naïve devotee. When other places also. He constructed a he reached adulthood, he began to huge reservoir -which is still in tact in show the traditional qualities of the Sholapur, for 'the benefit of men, Peasant stock manliness, truthfulness feasts, insects and all'. He was a kind and bluntness. man who rescued many poor people from their debts. He arranged mass While he was tending the cattle in the marriage in his temple and helped forest as a boy, he brooded over poor people perform their marriages . He spent his time otherwise in with minimum expenditure. His con- worshipping Shiva. He worshipped temporaries looked upon him as God Lord Shiva and one day without Himself. telling his parents and leaving the cat- tle in his care to fend for themselves, Siddharama regarded this activity as Siddharama joined a band of pilgrims pure and holy activity, and he

94 dreamed of merging into Shiva He has prepared what other Vachana- through such activity. He saw before writers have done.His Vachanas are him only one path to his goal, the generally short, limpid, well-cadenced path of work and worship. Thus and expressive of a simple idea. Siddharamas work is to uplift the peo- It would not be an exaggeration if it is ple, help the needy and worship the said that Siddharama excels many God Kappilsiddhamallikarjuna. Vachana-writers in the art of express- It was Allama Prabhu who first ing difficult subjects in a most per- diverted Siddharama from his path of spicuous way. His Vachanas do not work and turned him towards a life of abound in technical terms common to renunciation. Allama transform him the Virasaiva philosophy. So we find from a into a Shivayogi. Hence simplicity, not symbolism, in his he proposed that Siddharama should Vachanas. In his Vachanas we find the accompany him to Kalyana, which Trividi style mostly. was then the home of Basavanna and In his teachings he mentioned the Istalinga worship. Ishwara ( God) , Jiva ( life) , Prakruti ( nature) along with his devoted God But there was no entrance into Kapilsidhamallikarjuna. This Basavanna's Mantapa for Kapilasiddhamallikarjuna was also a one who had no Istalinga. Ankitanama of Siddharama. Siddharamayya had accordingly to learn it secret. So he was invested Siddharameshwara's Thoughts rele- with Istalinga, and it seems that the vance to Modern Times: ceremony was performed by Devoting himself mostly to the work Chennabsavanna as his and then of the all, he realized his own path of dedicated of the Lingayat religion and and the body -linga identity. society. Eventually, his life's efforts This was his contribution to the were crowned with the signal honour movement initiate by Basavanna in of being made the president of the medieval . At the same hall of Shiva experience. time, another well-known Vacanakara of the 12th century, Sonnalige Siddharameshwara's Vachanas: In Siddharama, upheld the superiority of the early age he was involve in the womanhood, he also opposed the social work to get the salvation. Later inferior views of men toward the on turned as spiritualist. More than women community. He agreed that, 1378 Vachanas written on woman in no way inferior to man. He Kappilsiddhamallikarjuna. They show upheld the nobility and greatness of his belief that the world is God's wor- womanhood. He expressed his views ship and equanimity of mind is the by this following Vachana: supreme achievement.

95 "Women is not just a female sex of greed, Women is not a demoners even Wiping out such desire, Women is the very embodiment of God Show me the good of siva-, Kapila Mallikarjuna" O father, Kapilsiddhamallikarjuna.

The "free atmosphere" created by The symbolic Linga, an oval round Basaveshwara and other object, duly consecrated has assumed Vachanakaras enabled many a the highest importance in the woman folk to possess "self-knowl- Virasaiva religion and philosophy. It edge" and to give expressions to their symbols the God Shiva himself. Shiva experiences in the form of Vacanas. is to be worshipped in the form of The Vacanas of Akkamahadevi, of Linga secured only through the Guru, Muktayakka, of Neelalocane, of the spiritual preceptor and guide, at Molige Mahadeviyamma, of Amugi the time of Diksha or initiation. This Rayamma and the like stand testimo- is called Istalinga. This is to be worn ny to the fact. The Sunyasampadane on one's body at all times and never give us the information of these five to be separated. On account of this women will make apparent their three symbolic emphasis, which is its out- basically distinct responses-militant standing characteristic, the followers rejection, reluctant independence, and of this system are aptly called accommodation-to the tension Lingayats. Worship of Linga conse- between social expectation and the crated in a temple or shrine is not call to spiritual perfection. favoured in virasaivism . Strictly speaking, it is even prohibited. This Siddharama, a contemporary of Linga is called Sthavara or immov- Basaveshwara, has extolled the great- able Linga. This Linga is worn both ness of the Vachanas in his Vachana by males and females irrespective of thus; 'The precursor' Vachana opened caste, class, colour, age and nationali- up the inner eye and ensured mental ty. Virasaivism keeps the path of real- equilibrium by freeing the mind form ization open to all the persons. the six internal enemies viz, lust, Siddharama mentioned importance of anger, greed, desire, arrogance and Linga in one of his Vachana: jealousy, the seven kinds of grief, Carnal pleasures and the ten evil ele- Once the Linga is as the anga, ments.' And the anga is as the linga, Oneness with linga is as with anga, Being alive in the root cause of anger, Oneness with anga is as with linga! Being in the body is the root cause of Since all our words ring hollow, desire, When mind is as the linga, Moving in the world is the root cause And linga is as the mind,

96 When the word is one with linga, Between learning and ignorance , And linga-oneness is as the sound, And is known to the world Where is the room for clash of words? Is a supreme scholar, O Kapilasiddha Mallinatha, Kapillasiddha Mallikarjuna. Do you , O Lord , make clear Whether or no, henceforth, 's influence on him mentioned You I should seek as God. in his Vachana:

Siddharama said that the idea -that Basava's image is motivating force for does not make a man great, mere meditation, reading does not make a man great, Basava's fame is source of knowledge, offering of flowers and leaves does Uttering Basava, Basava itself con- not make a man great, and any notes amount of preaching does not make a devotion Kapila siddha man great unless he realizes the light Mallinathayya, within. Siddharama said in his Vachana: Tribute: Many Sharanas, both men and women have paid tributes to When the world is within the self, Siddharamesvara. The following may Why have any truck with world, O be quoted among others. Lord ? "I gained through Siddharamayya one After the self becomes the touchstone, -pointed faith------Allama Why the pride of gold, O father ? Prabhu After becoming kamadenu, "Siddharameshwara is the Sivayogi Why the pride of other cattle, who can be Linga himself and himself O Lord Kapilsiddhamallikarjuna. be Linga"--Chennabasavanna. "Following Basavanna , the Siddharama mentioned good qualities Jangamalinga Siddharamayya became of a Scholar in one of his Vachana : as Basavanna"---Nilambike He went to serve the human and One who utters the Vachana behave the all others with as a human And does not experience it being, treaty equally along with ani- Is a demon. mals and get the salvation. He was One who utters the Vachana totally against those people who are And experience it after wearing Istalinga they praised Is a scholar other Gods. It means he was totally Learning belongs to one who works involved his Anga to Paralinga. So for it, many of his Vachanas influence the Ignorance is possessed by everyone. common people and they attracted the One who knows the difference Virasaivim.Thus he was considered

97 one of the greatest Sivayogi of the role in the Virasaiva movement. 12th century of Karnataka. For liter- Prabhudeva and Akkamahadevi ary point his Vachana are precious belong to one type; Basavanna and one. A common person easily under- Siddharama belong to another type. stands that and he also made They are Oriented. With the literature rich through his Vachanas. wisdom of life. So the sayings of In the Siddharama's Vachanas he also Siddharama are free from any poetic criticizes the existing blind beliefs, embroidery. . Thus the meaning and social evils, superstitions where the content of Vachanas are broad, effec- common people follow those things. tive and sublime. It has the great qual- Siddharama stated the man's mind is ity of elevating man to godhood. The the main thing to decide the right and liberty, equality, fraternity, social dig- wrong path on this earth. He criticize nity, social justice and humanity the when the happiness comes they praise message Vachanakaras are not con- the God when sadness comes they fined to any particular region or per- God's angry. So he says that it is the son but all men and women of nations inner heart which give the correct of the world. Because the importance direction to man. of Vachanas Siddharama and other Conclusion: -- Siddharama, a native Vachanakaras Vachanas translated into of Sonnalige, modern Sholapur, was many (23) languages like English, another great writer of Vachanas. He Hind Telugu,Marathi Tamil etc by was a -yogi. His compositions Basava Samithi . proclaim the great ideal of wiping Siddharama's thoughts still follower every year from every eye. In the many Virasaivas as well as other Siddharama's Vachanas he mentioned lover of literature went through his the souls salvation, Basavanna's influ- Vachanas and find their own path to ence on him, Allama converted him to get the salvation. Virasaivism and how the Chenabasavanna as his Guru. So Reference: Siddharama was one of the greatest "Basavaraja K.R, Basavesvara His, popular Sivayogi of Sholapur. Till Life, Vision and Work, Someswara today also his sayings influence on Publications, Dharwad, 2001. his devotees. And the tank, temples, "Basavaraju L (ed), Allamanna were existing along with that Vacanagalu, Geeta Book House, his Vachanas which are great medi- Mysore, 1969 (Kannada). cine to solve our internal and outer "Blake Michael R., Women of the problems. Sunyasampadane, Basava Journal, So he was a great Shivayogi of the Vol. 9, No.1, September 1984, Basava 12th century. Siddharama was a spiri- Sarniti, Bangalore. tual force that played an important "Chidananda Murthy, Basavanna,

98 National book Trust, , 1991. Literature" Basava Journal, Vol. No. "Hiremath RC.(ed) 9 & 10, issue No 4, June & Sept Siddharameshwarara Vachanagau, 1985, Basava Samithi, Bangalore. Karnataka University, Dharwar, 1968, "Vidyashankar. S. Siddharameshwara Vacana no. 1242.(Kannada) Vachana Samputa, Kannada and "Ishwaran K., Religion and Society Department, Bangalore, among the Lingayats of South India, 1993, Volume V.( Kannada) Vikas publishing House, New "Virupakshappa B., Basava Journal Delhi,1983. Silver Splendour , Basava Samithi, "Kalburgi M.M (ed), Vachana, Basava Bangalore, 2003. Samithi, Bangalore, 2012. "Virupakshappa, Basava and his "Nandimath S.C., Handbook of teachings, Basava Samiti, Bangalore, Virasaivism, The Literary Committee, 2002 L.E.Association , Dharwar, India "Wodeyar S.S, Sri Basaveshwara, 1941. Eighth Centenary Commemoration "Nandimath, S.C L.M.A.Menezes and Volume, Govt. of Mysore, 1965. R.C.Hiremath , Sunyasampadane Vol. I to V, Karnataka University, Dharwar, 1965 "Pradep kumar, Chennagowda and *** Vinaya Chaitya, Selected Vacanas of Saranas , Basava Samiti Bangalore , 2005. "Ramanujan R.K, The Speaking of Siva, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 1973. "Sangamesh Savadattimatha, Bayala Karanika, memorial volume of Silver Jubliee celebration of P.Shivayogishwara Maharswamiji, 2000. (Kannada). "Sasnur H.T, Eleventh and Twelfth Century , Ramakrishna Academy of Education and Culture ,Bijapur ,1991. "Suryakant Ghugare, Veerasaivism in India, Sadhana book stall, Gadhigaj, Kolhapur, 1995. "Uma Devi entitled " The contribution of Palkurki Somanatha to Sanskrit

99