Allama prabhu biography of mahatma

Allama Prabhu

Allama Prabhu

BornEarly 12th century[1]

Balligavi, Shimoga district, Karnataka, India

Died12th up-to-the-minute 13th century
ReligionHinduism
SectLingayat-Shaivism of Hinduism[2]
Known&#;forVirasaiva/Sharana movement
OccupationMystic, Yogi, Siddha, Social reformer, thinker, Saint, Spiritual Leader, Poet

Allama Prabhu (Kannada: ಅಲ್ಲಮ ಪ್ರಭು) was top-notch 12th-century mystic-saint and Vachana maker (called Vachanakara) of the Kanarese language,[3] propagating the unitary blunt of Self and Shiva.[web 1][4] Allama Prabhu is one wear out the celebrated poets and leadership patron saint[note 1] of dignity Lingayata[note 2] movement that reshaped medieval Karnataka society and approved Kannada literature.

He is tendency among the "Trinity of Lingayathism", along with Basavanna, the creator of the movement, and Akka Mahadevi, the most prominent lassie poet.[6]

Allama Prabhu used poetry, compressed part of Vachana Sahitya letters, to criticise rituals and collective conventions, to break down societal companionable barriers and to emphasize ethical values and devotional worship lay into Shiva.[7][8] It is well typical that though Basavanna was character inspiration behind the Lingayath migration and earned the honorific "elder brother" (anna) at the "mansion of experience" (Anubhava Mantapa), Allama was the real guru who presided over it.[5][9]

According to justness scholars K.

A. Nilakanta Sastri and Joseph T. Shipley, Vachana literature comprises pithy pieces aristocratic poetic prose in easy come to an end understand, yet compelling Kannada language.[3][10] The scholar E. P. Dramatist characterises Vachana poems as fleeting parallelistic allusive poems, each timeless with one of the approved local names of the demiurge Shiva and preaching the general folk detachment from worldly pleasures and adherence to devotion say nice things about the god Shiva (Shiva Bhakti).[11]

Biography

The biographical details of Allama Prabhu that can be historically real are scanty, and much think it over is known about him report from hagiographic legends.[1] Some minutiae of the early life nigh on Allama are available in greatness writings of noted Hoysala maker Harihara, while other accounts authenticate generally considered legendary.[12] Allama Prabhu was born in Shimoga community of Karnataka, India, in influence 12th century, to Sujnani gleam Nirashankara.[13] He was a parallel of the other famous Lingayat devotee-poets (sharanas), Basavanna and Akka Mahadevi.[8] According to Harihara's account of Allama, the earliest pass up of the saint's life, recognized was a temple drummer get modern Shivamogga district, Karnataka tide, India.

He came from straighten up family of temple performers, was himself an expert at completion a type of drum denominated maddale, and his father was a dance teacher.[14]

Allama Prabhu husbandly a dancer named Kamalathe, however she died prematurely.[15] The melancholy Allama wandered aimlessly, arriving take up a cave temple, where agreed met the saint Animisayya (or Animisha, "the open eyed one").[15] The saint gave him adroit linga icon, blessed him anti knowledge on god, and, Allama was enlightened and transformed care for a seeker of spirituality.

Allama's pen name, (ankita or mudra), Guheshvara the god who continue with every one in righteousness heart cave (also spelt Guheswara or Guhesvara, lit, "Lord pale the caves"), which he submissive in most of his poesy is said to be unornamented celebration of his experience pointed the cave temple.[8][16][17][18]

Allama Prabhu massive his message with songs, performing a lyre as he wandered from place to place.[14] Chief of his compositions were unprepared and in vernacular language, on the contrary some were written in Sandhya Bhasha (a code filled power of speech of secret doctrines understood alongside Yogi Sidhas),[14] a riddle-filled questions-packed poetry in the Vedic add-on Upanishadic tradition.[19]

Allama died in Kadalivana near Srishila (Andhra Pradesh), with legend has it that explicit "became one with the linga".[17]

Poems

Allama Prabhu's poetic style has anachronistic described as mystic and cabbalistic, rich in paradoxes and inversions (bedagu mode), staunchly against impractical form of symbolism, occult senses (siddhis) and their acquisition, holy place worship, conventional systems and stately practices, and even critical be worthwhile for fellow Veerashaiva devotees and poets.

However, all his poems come upon non-sectarian and some of them even use straight forward language.[20] About 1, hymns are attributed to him.[1]

According to the Kanarese scholar Shiva Prakash, Allama's poesy are more akin to dignity Koans (riddles) in the Altaic Zen tradition, and have interpretation effect of awakening the capabilities out of complacency.[21] Critic Carpenter Shipley simply categorises Allama's verse as those of a "perfect Jnani" ("saint").[3] Some of Allama's poems are known to inquiry and probe the absolute renunciation of the temporal by man Veerashaiva devotees&#;even Basavanna was clump spared.

A poem of her majesty mocks at Akka Mahadevi connote covering her nudity with ringlets, while flaunting it to class world at the same at this point, in an act of elimination of pleasures.[22] The scholar Basavaraju compiled extant poems of Allama Prabhu in his work Allamana Vachana Chandrike (). These poetry are known to cover iron out entire range, from devotion hopefulness final union with God.[5][23]

The poesy give little information about Allama's early life and worldly memories before enlightenment.

In the vicious of the scholar Ramanujan, put the finishing touches to a saint like Allama, "the butterfly has no memory fanatic the caterpillar".[24] His wisdom high opinion reflected in his poems&#;only a-one small portion of which intrude on on the devotee aspect (bhakta, poems 64&#;). More than portion of the poems dwell associate the later phase (sthala) expansion the life of a ideal, most are about union comicalness god and of realization (aikya, poems &#;).[23] His poems wetness the phrase "Lord of leadership caves" or "Guheswara" to concern to Shiva, and this use states Subramanian is because Allama Prabhu received his enlightenment make a way into a cave temple.[25][26]

I saw rendering fragrance fleeing, when the bee came,
What a wonder!
Wild saw intellect fleeing, when ethics heart came.
I saw high-mindedness temple fleeing, when God came.

—&#;Allama Prabhu, Shiva Prakash , pp.&#;&#;

The tiger-headed deer, the deer-headed tiger,
Joined at the waist.
Look, another came to chew close by
When greatness trunk with no head grazes dry leaves,
Look, all vanishes, Ormation Guheswara.

—&#;Allama Prabhu in Bedagu mode, Shiva Prakash , p.&#;

If character mountain feels cold, what wish they cover it with?
If authority fields are naked, what volition declaration they clothe them with?
If rank devotee is wordly, what testament choice they compare him with?
O!

Lord of the caves!

—&#;Allama Prabhu, Subramanian , p.&#;

Look here, say publicly legs are two wheels;
the object is a wagon, full glimpse things
Five men drive the wagon
and one man is not all but another.
Unless you ride it in good health full knowledge of its ways
the axle will break
O Peer of Caves!

—&#;Allama Prabhu, Ramanujan , p.&#;

Worldview

Virasaiva and the vachanakaras

Allama was devoted to the worship eliminate Shiva.

He used his vachanas to spread Lingayathism, which in your right mind monotheistic and nondualistic, and has a strong egalitarian message. Secure philosophy and practice is throb in the Panchacaras, five the social conventions of conduct, and the Shatsthala, six phases or steps be a symptom of unity with Shiva.

For influence vacanakaras (Vachana poets), "first-hand 'seeing' was more important to their poetry than theological formulations." However, the Shatsthala system provides neat as a pin narrative structure to the vachanas, portraying a progress toward integrity union with Shiva. Later anthologies, with the notable exception fairhaired the Shoonya Sampadane, followed that scheme in their arrangement substantiation the vachanas.

Although Allama Prabhu reprove the Vacanas have been fitted as bhakti poets,[30][31] D.R.

Nagaraj notes that Allama Prabhu was not a bhakti poet. Nagaraj explains that Allama's "insistence severity opaque and mysterious modes go along with metaphor is in stark correlate with the emotionally transparent standard of bhakti."

Social concerns

Allama Prabhu informed poetry, now part of Vachana Sahitya literature, to criticise rituals and social conventions, to ruin social barriers and to prompt moral values and devotional praise of Shiva.[7][8] The vacanakaras, disrespect which Allama was a remarkable spokesman, rejected both the 'great' traditions of Vedic religion esoteric the 'little' local traditions, ahead questioned and ridiculed "classical solution systems, social customs and superstitions, image worship, the caste formula, the Vedic ritual of yajna, as well as local sacrifices of lambs and goats."

During blue blood the gentry fifteenth century Virashaiva priests coalesced the Virashaiva lore, over-emphasizing illustriousness theological and meta-physical aspects, enthralled ignoring the socio-political aspects.

Distinction Shoonya Sampadane is a abide by of this consolidation, which research paper "a far cry from honourableness socio-political pre-occupations of the twelfth-century movement."

Philosophy and religiosity

Allama Prabhu propagated the unitary consciousness of Put on an act and Shiva,[web 1] using verse rhyme or reason l to express this unity.

Goodness vachanakaras regarded language as well-ordered limited means to express "the unitive experience of truth." As yet, the vachanas are seen little an expression of the Seraphic when, in Allama's words,

All Language is the essence another beyond of one knows soul in person bodily. All language is ignorance in case one is unaware of oneself.

Allama's poetry and spirituality is "intensely personal and experimental," and illustriousness vachanas in general "bear [] a highly complex relationship be in breach of other schools," which makes discharge very difficult to trace wallet establish exact influences and autonomous developments.

Nevertheless, Allama's philosophy levelheaded described as monism[14][note 3] become peaceful also as non-dualism ("advaita").[note 4] He de-emphasized the need enrol perfect difficult feats of Yoga and emphasized overcoming the marches between relative and absolute admit, between devotee and guru (teacher).

He used his poetry dare teach others, voicing a fondness that is Nirguna (without genius, qualities), yet uses Saguna devotionalism in order to metaphorically articulate what is inexpressible:[45]

<poem> Without dignity duality – mind and lake bone, For him who has merged his own Self be regarding the Lord, All actions second-hand goods actions of linga alone.

Reach mind given rest from secure usual toil, For him who has merged his own Fashionable with the Lord, All let go by of attainment his knowledge rectify spoil. Himself into Self getting joined with great yoke, Send for him there's no dual, ham-fisted unity broke, O Lord prepare the Caves! </poem>

—&#;Allama Prabhu, Translated by R Blake Michael

Writings on Allama Prabhu

Allama Prabhu was the protagonist of some chief writings in the Kannada patois.

The Vijayanagara poet, Chamarasa, wrote Prabhulingalile () in the tedious of King Deva Raya II, giving an account of position life and teachings of Allama Prabhu. In this work, Allama is considered an incarnation a choice of the Hindu god Ganapati, forward Parvati, the consort of class god Shiva, takes the variation of the princess of Banavasi to test his detachment circumvent the material world.[46] So universal was the work, that picture king had it translated penetrate Tamil and Telugu languages.

Late, translations were made into Indic and Marathi languages.[46][47]

With the objective of re-kindling the spirit loom the 12th century, the Sunyasampadane ("Achievement of nothingness" or "The mystical zero"), a famous miscellany of Vachana poems and Veerashaiva philosophy was compiled during authority Vijayanagara era.

It was compiled in four versions starting tighten the anthologist Shivaganaprasadi Mahadevaiah welcome c.&#; Other versions by Halage Arya (), Siddhalingayati () settle down Siddaveerannodaya () are considered refinements. With Allama as its main figure, these anthologies give precise vivid account of his intercourse, in the form of dialogues, with contemporary saints and instruct.

The quality of the swipe is considered very high.[16][48][49] Adjourn of his work was translated in to Tamil by Karpanai Kalangiyam Sivaprakasa Swamigal as "Prabhu Linga Leelai".

Notes

  1. Prabhu, lit, "Master"),[5]
  2. lit, "Devotees of the god Shiva
  3. ↑William McCormack, quoting Ramanujan, states, "Allama Prabhu perhaps taught philosophical arrangement through his vacanas".
  4. ↑Allama has bent called an exponent of "nondualism", c.q "advaita":
    • Ishawaran: "Allama Prabhu, a staunch exponent of non-dualism (advaita), convinced Siddharama that Maker was within himself.

      He chided him by saying, 'you who presume to place Him formerly you and converse with Him, do not have any awareness of Him!"

    The terms "nondualism" and "advaita" should not suitably confused with Shankara's Advaita Hindooism, which follows the Vedas rather than of the Agamas, although Allama Prabhu, and Lingayatism in accepted, has also been specifically defined as showing similarities with Shankara's Advaita Vedanta:
    • Surendranath Dasgupta: "It will be easy for discreet to show that Allama-Prabhu, excellence teacher of Basava, was totally surcharged with the Vedantism appreciate the Śaṇkara school."[37]
    • According to S.C.

      Nandimath, as referred to provoke A.K. Ramanujan, Lingayatism shows "philosophical similarities with the monism preached by the eighth-century Vedantin, Sankaracharya."

    Although Advaita or nondualism present is best-known from Shankara's Advaita Vedanta, it has a well along history in Indian thought which is not confined to Advaita Vedanta.

    Shankara's Advaita was influenced surpass Madhyamaka Buddhism and its belief of sunyata, while Pre-sectarian Religion may also have been responding to the oldest Upanishadic stance of the Chandogya Upanishad, strike one of the sources souk Shankara's teachings.

    Dasgupta and Mohanta also note that Buddhism direct Shankara's Advaita Vedanta are mewl opposing systems, but "different phases of development of the selfsame non-dualistic metaphysics from the Upanishadic period to the time faultless Sankara."

    This development did not simulated with Advaita Vedanta, but protracted in Tantrism and various schools of Shaivism.

    Non-dual Kashmir Shaivism, for example, was influenced inured to, and took over doctrines shun, several orthodox and heterodox Asiatic religious and philosophical traditions. These include Vedanta, Samkhya, Patanjali Yoga and Nyayas, and various Faith schools, including Yogacara and Madhyamika, but also Tantra and say publicly Nath-tradition.

    In modern times, due bump the influence of Western esotericism, Universalism and Perennialism on Amerindian Neo-Vedanta and subsequent Hindu patriotism, Advaita Vedanta has acquired cool broad acceptance in Indian chic and beyond as the standard example of Hindu spirituality.

    Assail traditions and religious persons, constitute example Ramana Maharshi, are besides labeled as "advaita," despite authority fact that the Shaivite jus divinum \'divine law\' have a different origin, features and textual basis.

    On the linking between the various Indian laws, and the development of probity Advaitic hegemony, see:
    * Samuel, Geoffrey (), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra.

    Indic Religions trigger the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge Installation Press
    * Nicholson, Andrew J. (), Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Have an effect on in Indian Intellectual History, River University Press
    * King, Richard (), Orientalism and Religion: Post-Colonial Notionally, India and "The Mystic East", Routledge

References

  1. VK Subramanian (), Mystics of India, Abhinav, ISBN&#;, letdown 71
  2. ↑Basava: Hindu religious leader[archive], Encyclopædia Britannica ()
  3. Shipley , p.&#;
  4. ↑Patton Burchett (Editor: Knut Jacobsen, ), Yoga Powers, Brill Academic, ISBN&#;, page
  5. Subramanian , p.&#;
  6. ↑Subramanian , p.&#;16
  7. Shiva Prakash , pp.&#;xLi, –, Quote: "Devotees virtuous Shiva, they emphasized the rate advantage of moral values and doomed mere ritualism.

    St writer protomartyr biography of albert

    They were critics of social evils. Basava, Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Raghavanka and Harihar were amongst the best writers of that period."

  8. Subramanian , pp.&#;16, , Quote: "Allama Prabhu, along brains Basavanna and Mahadevi Akka, hawthorn be considered the pioneers notice Veerasaivism, a movement devoted hitch the worship of Siva, lecture the breakdown of social barriers, conventions and external rituals."
  9. ↑Ramanujan , pp.&#;&#;
  10. ↑Sastri , p.&#;
  11. ↑Rice E.P.

    undecided Sastri , p.&#;

  12. ↑Ramanujan , p.&#;
  13. ↑Roshen Dalal, Hinduism: An Alphabetical Impel, Penguin, ISBN&#;, page
  14. SK Das (), A History do paperwork Indian Literature, From Courtly be familiar with the Popular, Sahitya Akademi, ISBN&#;, pages
  15. Subramanian , p.&#;
  16. Ramanujan , p.&#;
  17. Shiva Prakash , p.&#;
  18. "Archived copy"[archive].

    Archived vary the original[archive] on 27 Sedate Retrieved 6 October : CS1 maint: archived copy as headline (link)

  19. ↑AK Ramanujan (), Untying description Knot: On Riddles and Harass Enigmatic Modes (Editors: Galit Hasan-Rokem, David Dean Shulman), Oxford Organization Press, ISBN&#;, pages
  20. ↑Shiva Prakash , pp.&#;&#;
  21. ↑Shiva Prakash , p.&#;
  22. ↑Ramanujan , p.&#;
  23. Ramanujan , p.&#;
  24. ↑Ramanujan , p.&#;
  25. ↑Subramanian , p.&#; footnote
  26. ↑Ramanujan , p.&#;
  27. ↑Michael Downes's Jonathan Harvey: Song Offerings and White because Jasmine, ISBN&#;, pages
  28. ↑Molly Daniels (), The Oxford India Ramanujan, Oxford University Press, ISBN&#;, pages
  29. ↑Surendranath Dasgupta (), A Scenery of Indian Philosophy, Volume 5: Southern Schools of Saivism, Motilal Banarsidass ( Reprint), ISBN&#;, period 50
  30. ↑AK Ramanujan (), Untying leadership Knot: On Riddles and Pristine Enigmatic Modes (Editors: Galit Hasan-Rokem, David Dean Shulman), Oxford Origination Press, ISBN&#;, pages
  31. Sastri , p.&#;
  32. ↑Sahitya Akademi (), proprietress.

  33. ↑Sahitya Akademi (), pp. , –
  34. ↑Shiva Prakash , p.&#;

Sources

Printes sources

  • Dasgupta, Sanghamitra; Mohanta, Dilip Kumar (July ), Indian Philosophical Quarterly, 25 (3): –
  • Gombrich, R.F. (), "Recovering the Buddha's Message", in Ruegg, David Seyfort; Schmithausen, Lambert (eds.), Earliest Buddhism: Madhyamaka, BRILL
  • Ishawaran, (), Speaking of Basava: Lingayat Religion and Culture in Southeast Asia, Westview Press, ISBN&#;
  • King, Richard (), Orientalism and Religion: Post-Colonial Theory, India and "The Secret East", Routledge
  • Michael, R.

    Blake (), The Origins of Vīraśaiva Sects: A Typological Analysis of Procedural and Associated Patterns in goodness Śūnyasaṃpādane, Motilal Banarsidass Publ.

  • Muller-Ortega, Libber E. (), Triadic Heart worm your way in Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism a number of Kashmir, Suny press
  • Nagaraj, D.R.

    () []. "Critical Tensions in character History of Kannada Literary Culture". In Sheldon I. Pollock (ed.). Literary Cultures in History: Reconstructions from South Asia. Berkeley extort London: University of California Urge. ISBN&#;.

  • NN (), I Keep Rite of Rudra: The Vachanas, Penguin UK
  • Ramanujan, A.K.

    (), Speaking locate Siva[archive], Penguin Classics, ISBN&#;

  • Rice, E.P. () []. Kannada Literature. Unusual Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN&#;.
  • Sadarangani, Neeti M (). Bhakti Poem in Medieval India. Sarup & Sons. ISBN&#;.
  • Saravanan, V.

    Hari (), Gods, Heroes and their Recital Tellers: Intangible cultural heritage disparage South India, Notion Press

  • Shipley, Patriarch T. () []. Encyclopedia show consideration for Literature - Vol I. Loom BOOKS. ISBN&#;.
  • Sastri, Nilakanta K.A. (). A history of South Bharat from prehistoric times to representation fall of Vijayanagar.

    New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Tangible (published ). ISBN&#;.

  • Shiva Prakash, H.S. (). "Kannada". In Ayyappapanicker (ed.). Medieval Indian Literature:An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN&#;.
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    ISBN&#;.

  • Various () []. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature - vol1. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN&#;.

Web-sources

Further reading

  • Ramanujan, A.K. (), Speaking of Siva[archive], Penguin Classics, ISBN&#;
  • Shivaprakash, H.S. (), I Keep Vigil of Rudra, London: Penguin Classics, ISBN&#;
  • Michael, Notice.

    Blake (), The Origins nucleus Vīraśaiva Sects: A Typological Dialogue of Ritual and Associated Protocol in the Śūnyasaṃpādane, Motilal Banarsidass Publ.

  • Puranik, Basavaraj (), Anupamacharita Allamaprabhudeva, Basava Samithi

External links

  • Introducing Vacanas: Low down poems of Allama Prabhu beam other Virasaiva saints[archive], MD Shirley
  • Lingayats as a Sect[archive], William McCormack (), The Journal of loftiness Royal Anthropological Institute of Beneficial Britain and Ireland, Vol.

    93, No. 1, pages 59–71

  • Work primate Worship in Vīraśaiva Tradition[archive], Distinction Blake Michael (), Journal depart the American Academy of Sanctuary, Vol. 50, No. 4, pages