Panchacharyas ( Since 20th century ) previously known as Chaturacharyas ( 15-20th century ) are controversial religious figures of India, Panchacharya which means five sages they are Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhya, their iconography is sage standing on Shivalingam, they are seated in Panchapeethas (five monastery) known as Veera (Rambhapuri), Saddharma (Ujjaini), Vairagya (Kedar), Surya (Srisailam), 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] 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]
| Chaturacharyas ( 15-20th century ) Panchacharyas ( 20th century onwards ) चातुराचार्यः ( १५-२० शताब्दी ) पञ्चाचार्यः ( २० शताब्द्याः आरभ्य ) | |
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Flag of Panchacharyas Iconography Padapuje on Shivalinga Padapuje on head of the devotee Head of Rambapuri Peetha Pallakki utsav Padapuje on head of the devotee | |
| 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 |
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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History
editPanchacharyas 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 which means three sages Adishankaracharya, Madhavacharya, Ramanujacharya and their peethas, The five priest among the migrant Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhya crowned themselves as a Panchacharyas and established panchpeethas, which is named after famous shiva temples to gain popularity, and they started to claim themselves as a founder of Lingayatism or Veerashaiva, 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
editSiddhantha 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]
Summery of Siddhanta Shikhamani
editSiddhanta 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.
Noted Opinion and Review
editSiddhanta Shikhamani was older than the Ramayana, the author Shivayogi Shivacharya is an incarnation of Renukacharya ,The Siddhantha Shikhamani is holybook for Lingayats or Veerashaivas
Siddhantha Shikhamani was written sometime in the 14th century or later and it certainly did not predate Basavanna or his sharana movement
— M. Chidananda Murthy, Noted Historian[2]
Funnily enough, 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.
Iconography
editA sage standing on Shivalingam
edit
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 Revanaradya is said to have been born from the Someshwara lingam in Kolanupaka of Telangana.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Dasgupta (2 January 1955). A History of Indian Philosophy: Volume 5. Cambridge University Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-521-04782-1.
- ^ a b c d e f "Making Sense of the Lingayat vs Veerashaiva Debate". thewire.in. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Social Structure of the Veerashaiva Saints: Principles of Veerashaivism. M. Manjappa Hardekar. 1990.
- ^ Ghugare, Suryakant Balasaheb (1995). Veerashaivism in India. Sadhana Book Stall.
- ^ Śrīrāmamūrti, Pōcañcarla (1972). Contribution of Andhra to Sanskrit Literature. Andhra University. p. 163.
- ^ Patil, Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda (2002). Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-867-9.
- ^ Prasoon, Prasoon (2009). Indian saints and sages. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 9788122310627. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Veerashaivism in India. Sadhana Book Stall. 22 January 1995.
- ^ M. Sivakumara Swamy, translator (2007)[full citation needed]
- ^ Burghart, Richard; Cantlie, Audrey (1985). Indian Religion. Curzon Press. ISBN 978-0-7007-0168-1.
- ^ Chandrashekhara Shivacharya (2017). Shri Siddhanta Shikhaamani Paraamarshe. Managuli, Vijapura: Sha. Bra. Sri Dr. Mahantalinga Shivacharya Swamigalavara Pattaadhikara Rajata Mahotsava Samiti.
- ^ eGangotri. Shri Jagadguru Panchacharya Vijay ( Marathi) Shaiva Bharati Shodha Pratishthan.
- ^ Nandimath, S.C. (1942). A handbook of Vīraśaivism. Dharwar, S. India: L.E. Association. pp. 14–15.
Further reading
edit- ವೀರಶೈವ ಪಂಚಾಚಾರ್ಯರು (ಸತ್ಯ vs ಮಿತ್ಯ), ಡಾ. ಗೋ. ರು. ಚನ್ನಬಸಪ್ಪ [Veerashaiva Panchacharyas (Facts vs Fiction) by Dr. G. R. Channabasappa] (in Kannada and English). Karnataka: JLMS.[1]
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