Veerashaivism is a sect within the Shaivism fold of Hinduism. According to tradition, it was transmitted by ''Panchacharyas'', ( kn, ಪಂಚಾಚಾರ್ಯರು, paṃcācāraya from sa, पंचचार्य, pañcācārya), or five acharyas: Renukacharya,

Darukacharya Lingayatism or Veera Saivism is a Hindu denominations, Hindu denomination based on Shaivism. Initially known as ''Veerashaivas'', since the 12th-century adherents of this faith are known as ''Lingayats''. The terms ''Lingayatism'' and ''Veeras ...

, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhya, and first taught by Renukacharya to

Agastya Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...

, a Vedic seer. The preachings of Jagadguru Renukacharya Bhagavadpada to rishi Agastya is recorded in the form of a book, ''Shri Siddhantha Shikhamani'', which is regarded as an important holy book for the Veerashaivas. This text is likely a 8th century work, and it likely contains the earliest reference to Veerashaivism in literature.

Guru lineage

A small manuscript named ''Vira-Saiva-Guru-Parampara'' details the following guru lineage for Veerashaivism in order of priority: Visvesvara Guru, Ekorama, Viresaradhya, Virabhadra, Viranaradhya, Manikyaradhya, Buccayyaradhya, Vira Mallesvaradhya, Desikaradhya, Vrsabha, Aksaka, and Mukha Lingesvara. Viranaradhya is the father of the 18th century Telugu Veerashaivite ''acharya''

Mulugu Papayaradhya Mulugu Papayaradhya, also known as Mulugu Papayya and Sangameswara Sastry, (1778–1852) was a Telugu and Sanskrit scholar, preceptor, translator, and writer, known for his translation of the Devi Bhagavatam from Sanskrit into Telugu and for being t ...

. In the ''Virasaiva Agama,'' it is mentioned that in four main pontiff seats (Yoga Peetha, Maha Peetha, Jnana Peetha, and Soma Peetha), there are four gurus of different priority: Revana, Marula, Vamadeva, and Panditaradhya.

Panchacharyas

According to tradition, the ''Panchacharyas'' arose out of five great ''Sthavaralingas'' located in Kolanupaka in

Aler Alair is a town in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district of the Indian state of Telangana. It is a municipality and one of the constituencies in the Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. It is located in Alair mandal of Bhongir revenue division. Alair is known ...

town,

Yadadri district Yadadri Bhuvanagiri District, is a district in the Indian state of Telangana. The administrative headquarters is located at Bhuvanagiri Town. The district shares boundaries with Suryapet, Nalgonda, Jangaon, Siddipet, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rang ...

, Telangana,

Ujjain Ujjain (, Hindustani language, Hindustani pronunciation: Help:IPA/Hindi and Urdu, �d͡ːʒɛːn is a city in Ujjain district of the States and territories of India, Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Prad ...

Madhyapradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the second lar ...

, Kedar in Uttarakhand, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and

Kashi Kashi or Kaashi may refer to: Places * Varanasi (historically known as "Kashi"), a holy city in India **Kingdom of Kashi, an ancient kingdom in the same place, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas **Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi * Kashgar, a cit ...

Banaras 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 tra ...

in Uttar Pradesh under different names in different ''

Yuga A ''yuga'', in Hinduism, is generally used to indicate an age of time. In the ''Rigveda'', a ''yuga'' refers to generations, a long period, a very brief period, or a yoke (joining of two things). In the ''Mahabharata'', the words ''yuga'' and ...

s''. The ''Panchacharyas'' established five ''peethas'', which play an important role in Veerashaiva.

The five peetha of Veerashaiva

* Veerasimhasana of Rambhapuri in Balehonnuru ( Karnataka) * Saddharma Shimhasana of (

) (

) later moved to Ujjini ( Karnataka) * Vairagya Shimhasana of Kedar ( Uttarakhand) * Surya Shimhasana of Srisailam ( Andhra Pradesh) and * Jnana Shimhasana of Kasi ( Uttar Pradesh)

Peethas

Veerashaivism is continued to this day and is preserved and transmitted by five ''peethas'' (Rambhapuri, Ujjaini, Kedar, Shreeshail, Kashi), who play an essential role in the Veerashaiva tradition.

Philosophy

The philosophy of Veerashaivism is explained in

Siddhanta Shikhamani Siddhantha Shikhamani is a religious scripture 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 ...

. While the Veerashaiva-tradition incorporates Vedic elements, the origin of ''panchacharyas'' has been explained in Sivagamas, especially in

Svayambhuva Agama Manu ( sa, मनु) is a term found as various meanings in Hinduism. In early texts, it refers to the archetypal man, or to the first man ( progenitor of humanity). The Sanskrit term for 'human', मानव (IAST: mānava) means 'of Manu ...

, Suprabhedagama and Viragama. The earlier portions of Agama literature are the fundamental source of Saiva religion, while the latter portions are of special importance to Veerashaivism. However, Veerashaivism differs from Agamic Shaivism and

Pasupata Pashupata Shaivism (, sa, पाशुपत) is the oldest of the major Shaivite Hindu schools. The mainstream which follows Vedic Pasupata penance are 'Maha Pasupatas' and the schism of 'Lakula Pasupata' of Lakulisa. There is a debate about p ...

Shaivism in its philosophy, in its doctrine of ''sthala,'' in the special kind of ''lingadharana,'' and in certain ritualistic elements.

References

{{Reflist Shaivism Hinduism-related lists Hindu traditions