Siddhantha Shikhamani is a
religious scripture
Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual prac ...
of the
Panchacharyas tradition of
Veerashaivas .Traditionally it is attributed to Shri Shivayogi Shivacharya. It is regarded as ''Dharmagrantha'' ("sacred scripture") of Veerashaivism. The work is in the form of a dialogue between Jagadguru Renuka and Agastya Maharshi. This work is also known by other names: ''Renukagastya samvada'' and ''Veerashiava Mahatantra''.
About the Author
Shri Shivayogi Shivacharya is believed to be an incarnation of Renukacharya. He belongs to early 8th century. Scholars are not conclusive about it.
History
Traditionally, ''Siddhantha Shikhamani'' is attributed to Sri Shivayogi Shivacharya, and is said to contain the preachings of Jagaduru Renukacharya, the first Panchacharya. According to the work (see chapter 3), Shivacharya was a member of the gana of Shiva. Due to his error, he was sent to earth to be born as a human being, as a punishment. It was written in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
, and gives an elaboration of "the primitive traits of Veerashaivism
oundin the
Vedas
upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...
and the
Upanishads
The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...
" and "the concrete features given to it in the latter parts (Uttarabhaga) of the Saivagamas."
[Linga Raju]
''Siddhanta Shikhamani: The one hundred one sthala doctrine. A concise composition''.
Kindle Edition[M. Sivakumara Swamy, translator (2007)]
Translations
*
Kannada language
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native sp ...
: by ''1008 Jagaduru sri Dr. Chandrashekhara Shivacharya Mahaswamiji'' of Jangamawadi math of
Varanasi
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic t ...
(21st century).
* English: by M. Shivakumara Swamy from
Bengaluru
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
in 2007, with the blessings of 1008 Jagadguru Sri. Chandrashekara Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, Varanasi.
Contents
According to M. Sivakumara Swamy, "The doctrine of one hundred and one Sthalas is the central teaching of the text. This doctrine is developed in the form of a dialogue between Sri Renuka, one of the five holy
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a tit ...
s (Panchacharyas) of yore who founded
Virasaivism, and
Agastya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
, the pitcher-born sage of Pancavati."
This work has 21 chapters. The introduction (ch. 1–5) starts with a
prayer
Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified a ...
to
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
, the supreme lord. The introduction further states that Veerashaiva philosophy is equivalent to the Vedas and all knowledge of Upanishads and Agamas (Ch.3, Sl.71, SN.139), and narrates how Panchacharya Shree Jagadguru Renukacharya sprang from Someshwara Linga at Kolipaki (ch. 3 and 4), who transmitted the Veerashaiva philosophy to Sage
Agasthya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
(ch.5), to be written down by Shivayogi Shivacharya (ch.1).
Chapter 5: This gives a detailed description of
Shatsthala
The concept of ''Shatsthala'' (ಷಟ್ಸ್ತಲ or ಷಟ್ ಸ್ಥಲ in Kannada, षट्स्थल in Sanskrit language; ṣaṭ-sthala) or Six (Ṣaṭ/ಷಟ್) Phases/Stages (Sthala/ಸ್ಥಲ) is pivotal to the veerashaiva t ...
.
References
{{reflist
Further reading
* Guru S. Bale, ''Siddantha Sikamani'' (in English), Asha-Sid Publishing Company
External links
Veerashaiva Directory websiteShri Siddhantha Shikhamani: Sanskrit-KannadaShri Siddhantha Shikhamani: Sanskrit-EnglishSanskrit text in Karnata lipi/script, with Suprabhodini Tiku in Kannada
Hindu texts
Veerashaiva