Gallery
Flag of Panchacharyas
Padapuje on Shivalingam
Padapuje on head of the devotee
Head of Rambapuri Peetha
Pallakki utsav
Padapuje on head of the devotee
| Chaturacharyas Panchacharyas | |
|---|---|
| First appearance |
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| Adapted by | Panchapeethas |
| Portrayed by | Shivayogi Shivacharya |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Jagadguru Panchacharya |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Self-styled Godmans |
| Affiliation | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Panchacharyas previously known as Chaturacharyas, are religious figures of India. Panchacharya means five sages, referring to Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishwaradhya, their iconography is sage standing on Shivalingam. They are seated in Panchapeethas (five monasteries) known as Veera (Rambhapuri), Saddharma (Ujjaini), Vairagya (Kedar), Surya (Srisailam), and Jnana (Kashi) Shimhasanas. Renukacharya is first mentioned in Siddhanta Shikhamani, a 15th century mythological fiction of Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is regarded as holy book for the Panchapeethas. [1]
Timeline of Panchacharyas | ||||||||||||||||||||||
−2000 — – −1950 — – −1900 — – −1850 — – −1800 — – −1750 — – −1700 — – −1650 — – −1600 — – −1550 — – −1500 — – −1450 — – −1400 — – −1350 — – −1300 — | Shri Shaila Peetha Veerashaivaamrutha Purana Chathuracharya Purana Rambapuri Peetha Kashi Peetha Ujjaini & Kedara Peetha Controversy |
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Panchacharyas origin is traced to Siddhanta Shikhamani a 15th century mythological fiction of Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, During 14th century some Telugu aradhya brahmin priests migrated to Kannada region due to rise of Vaishnava dominance in Telugu region, they mesmerized by the large following of Lingayatism, they started to adopt ishtalinga worship, but didn't stopped their brahminism, and they started to mix Lingayatism and brahminism. Similar to their past brahmanical Acharya Traya, meaning three sages (Adishankaracharya, Madhavacharya, Ramanujacharya, and their peethas), the five priest among the migrant five sages crowned themselves as a Panchacharyas and established panchpeethas, which are named after famous shiva temples to gain popularity, and they started to claim themselves as a founder of Lingayatism, they created mythological fiction Siddhanta Shikhamani, manipulated agama and other Shaiva literature, republished it as Veerashaivaagama to support their claims. [2] [1] [3] [4] A small manuscript named Acharya-Guru-Parampara details the following guru lineage of Panchapeethas; Visvesvara Guru, Ekorama, Viresaradhya, Virabhadra, Viranaradhya, Manikyaradhya, Buccayyaradhya, Vira Mallesvaradhya, Desikaradhya, Vrsabha, Aksaka, and Mukha Lingesvara. [1] [5] [6]
Siddhanta Shikhamani is a Sanskrit language mythological fiction of 15th century written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is also known as Renukagastya samvada. [7] [8] In 21st century Siddhantha Shikhamani was translated to Kannada by Chandrashekhara Shivacharya swamiji head of one of the Panchapeetha. [9] [10]
Siddhanta Shikamani has 21 chapters, The introduction starts with a prayer to Shiva, it further states, this holy book is equivalent to the Vedas and all knowledge of Upanishads and Agamas, It claims Renukaradhya arose out of five great Sthavaralingas, in different yugas they were dharma pracharaks in the Krutayuga, Tretayuga and Dwaparayuga; and they had given advice to Vibhishana of the Ramayana; and they described the glories of Shiva to sage Agastya; and they had given the Chandramouleshwara Linga to Shankaracharya; The fictional claims continues.
Based on this book the Panchapeethas claimed Panchacharyas are a founders of Lingayatism or Veerashaiva, however this claim is rejected by researchers and opinioned Siddhanta Shikhamani is mythological fiction not a history, it is written after a centuries of founding Lingayatism or Veerashaiva by Basava and their is no mention of any of this Panchacharyas in any Hindu literatures or inscriptions which predates 15th century. [2] Researchers also rejected claims of Siddhanta Shikhamani, as per them no Veda, Agama, Upanishad, Brahmanaka, Aranyaka or any text related to Shankaracharya or the Ramayana or a any Hindu literature make a mention of any of these Panchacharyas or their amazing activities. [2]
Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhyas are called as Panchacharyas, their iconography is a sage standing on Shivalingam, it is based on Siddhanta Shikhamani, as per this mythology Renukaradhya is said to have been born from the Someshwara lingam in Kolanupaka of Telangana. [13]
Shaivism is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions ranging from devotional dualistic theism such as Shaiva Siddhanta to yoga-orientated monistic non-theism such as Kashmiri Shaivism. It considers both the Vedas and the Agama texts as important sources of theology. According to a 2010 estimate by Johnson and Grim, Shaivism is the second-largest Hindu sect, constituting about 252 million or 26.6% of Hindus.
The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious sect of Shaivism within Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as liṅgāyataru, liṅgavanta, vīraśaiva, liṅgadhāri. Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intimate relationship with Parashiva. A radical feature of lingayats is their staunch opposition to the caste system and advocacy for social equality, challenging societal norms of the time. Its philosophical tenets are encapsulated in Vachanas, a form of devotional poetry. The tradition also emphasizes Kayaka (work) and Dasoha (service) as forms of worship, underscoring the sanctity of labor and service to others. Unlike mainstream Hinduism, Lingayats reject scriptural authority of vedas, puranas, superstition, astrology, vedic priesthood ritualistic practices, and the concept of rebirth, promoting a direct, personal experience of the divine.
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Basava (1131–1167), also called Basavēśvara and Basavaṇṇa, was an Indian philosopher, poet, Lingayat social reformer in the Shiva-focused bhakti movement, and a Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty. Basava was active during the rule of both dynasties but reached the peak of his influence during the rule of King Bijjala II in Karnataka, India.
Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, which is spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script.
Nandi, also known as Nandikeshvara or Nandideva, is the bull vahana (mount) of the Hindu god Shiva. He is also the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine.
Tigalari or Tulu script is a Southern Brahmic script which was used to write Tulu, Kannada, and Sanskrit languages. It was primarily used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit. It evolved from the Grantha script.
Devanga is a Hindu caste from South India that traditionally followed the occupation of textile merchandise, weaving and farming mostly found in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
The Jangam 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 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.
Hoysala literature is the large body of literature in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages produced by the Hoysala Empire (1025–1343) in what is now southern India. The empire was established by Nripa Kama II, came into political prominence during the rule of King Vishnuvardhana (1108–1152), and declined gradually after its defeat by the Khalji dynasty invaders in 1311.
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Chamarasa was a 15th century Virashaiva poet in the Kannada language, during the reign of Vijayanagar Empire, a powerful empire in Southern India during 14th - 16th centuries. A contemporary and competitor to a noted Brahmin Kannada poet Kumara Vyasa, Chamarasa was patronised by King Deva Raya II. The work is in 25 chapters (gatis) comprising 1111 six-line verses (arupadi).
Nijaguna Shivayogi was an Indian poet and a prolific writer in the Kannada language. He lived in the 15th century. He was a follower of the Veerashaiva faith, which he attempted to reconcile with the Advaita Hinduism of Adi Shankaracharya. Tradition has it that Shivayogi was a petty chieftain of Kollegal taluk in modern Mysore district of Karnataka state, India. Considered a visionary of his time, his Vivekachintamani, written in encyclopaedic proportions and in prose style, and the Kaivalya Paddhati, a musical treatise consisting of songs are considered his most enduring works.
Vijayanagara literature in Kannada is the body of literature composed in the Kannada language of South India during the ascendancy of the Vijayanagara Empire which lasted from the 14th through the 16th century. The Vijayanagara empire was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I. Although it lasted until 1664, its power declined after a major military defeat by the Shahi Sultanates in the battle of Talikota in 1565. The empire is named after its capital city Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround modern Hampi, now a World Heritage Site in Karnataka.
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The Advaita Guru-Paramparā is the traditional lineage (parampara) of divine, Vedic and historical teachers of Advaita Vedanta. It begins with the Daiva-paramparā, the gods; followed by the Ṛṣi-paramparā, the Vedic seers; and then the Mānava-paramparā, with the historical teachers Gaudapada and Adi Shankara, and four of Shankara's pupils. Of the five contemporary acharyas, the heads of the five Advaita mathas, four acharyas trace their lineage to those four pupils and one to Adi Shankara himself.
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