Panchacharyas previously known as Chaturacharyas, are religious figures of Veerashiva denomination of

Shaivism Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...

. Veerashaivism is thought to be an evolution of the Kalamukha Shaiva Jiyar tradition. Panchacharya means five sages, referring to Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishwaradhya, their iconography is sage emerging from the five Shivalingams of the Panchapeethas. 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, in the Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is regarded as holy book for the Veerashaivas.

History

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 The Lingayats are a Monotheism, monotheistic religious denomination of Hindu denominations, Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalingam, Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a ...

, and they started to mix Lingayatism and brahminism, but did not stop their Brahminism. Similar to their past Brahmanical Acharya Traya, meaning three sages ( Adishankaracharya, Madhavacharya,

Ramanujacharya Ramanuja ('; Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmānuja; 1077 – 1157), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and social reformer. He is one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavi ...

, 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, and Panchacharyas are the founders of

Veerashaivism The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intima ...

, they created mythological fiction Siddhanta Shikhamani, manipulated agama and other

Shaiva Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. It is the second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million Hindus, found widely across South Asia (predominantly in ...

literature, republished it as Veerashaivaagama to support their claims. 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.

Siddhanta Shikhamani

Siddhanta Shikhamani is a Sanskrit language mythological fiction of 15th century written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is also known as ''Renukagastya samvada''. In 21st century Siddhantha Shikhamani was translated to Kannada by Dr Chandrashekhara Shivacharya swamiji head of one of the Panchapeetha.M. Sivakumara Swamy, translator (2007)

Summery of Siddhanta Shikhamani

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 Basava (1131–1196), also called and , 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 and the Kalachuri dynas ...

and there is no mention of any of this Panchacharyas in any Hindu literatures or inscriptions which predates 15th century. 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 any Hindu literature make a mention of any of these Panchacharyas or their amazing activities.

Iconography

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 Renukaradhya is said to have been born from the Someshwara lingam in Kolanupaka of

Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...

Gallery

File:Flag of Panchacharyas.png, Flag of Panchacharyas File:Panchacharyas1.png, Padapuje on Shivalingam File:Panchacharyas2.png, Padapuje on head of the devotee File:Panchacharyas3.png, Head of Rambapuri Peetha File:Panchacharyas4.png, Pallakki utsav File:Panchacharyas5.png, Padapuje on head of the devotee

References

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