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Panchacharyas

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Panchacharyas (Sanskrit: पञ्चाचार्य), previously known as Chaturacharyas (Sanskrit: चातुराचार्य), are controversial 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] 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
Iconography
First appearance
Adapted byPanchapeethas
Portrayed byShivayogi Shivacharya
In-universe information
Full nameJagadguru Panchacharya
GenderMale
OccupationSelf-styled Godmans
Affiliation
ReligionHinduism

History

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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

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Siddhantha 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

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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.

— Summery, Siddhantha Shikhamani, 15th century mythological fiction[2][11][12]

Iconography

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A sage standing on Shivalingam

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A sage standing on Shivalingam

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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dasgupta (2 January 1955). A History of Indian Philosophy: Volume 5. Cambridge University Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-521-04782-1.
  2. ^ a b c "Making Sense of the Lingayat vs Veerashaiva Debate". thewire.in. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ Social Structure of the Veerashaiva Saints: Principles of Veerashaivism. M. Manjappa Hardekar. 1990.
  4. ^ Ghugare, Suryakant Balasaheb (1995). Veerashaivism in India. Sadhana Book Stall.
  5. ^ Śrīrāmamūrti, Pōcañcarla (1972). Contribution of Andhra to Sanskrit Literature. Andhra University. p. 163.
  6. ^ Patil, Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda (2002). Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-867-9.
  7. ^ Prasoon, Prasoon (2009). Indian saints and sages. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 9788122310627. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  8. ^ Veerashaivism in India. Sadhana Book Stall. 22 January 1995.
  9. ^ M. Sivakumara Swamy, translator (2007)[full citation needed]
  10. ^ Burghart, Richard; Cantlie, Audrey (1985). Indian Religion. Curzon Press. ISBN 978-0-7007-0168-1.
  11. ^ Chandrashekhara Shivacharya (2017). Shri Siddhanta Shikhaamani Paraamarshe. Managuli, Vijapura: Sha. Bra. Sri Dr. Mahantalinga Shivacharya Swamigalavara Pattaadhikara Rajata Mahotsava Samiti.
  12. ^ eGangotri. Shri Jagadguru Panchacharya Vijay ( Marathi) Shaiva Bharati Shodha Pratishthan.
  13. ^ Nandimath, S.C. (1942). A handbook of Vīraśaivism. Dharwar, S. India: L.E. Association. pp. 14–15.

Further reading

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  • 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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