Veerashaiva

'''Veerashaivism''' is a sect within the [[Shaivism]] fold of [[Hinduism]].

'''Veerashaivism''' is a sect within the [[Shaivism]] fold of [[Hinduism]]. According to tradition, it was transmitted by ''Panchacharyas'', ({{langx|kn|ಪಂಚಾಚಾರ್ಯರು|paṃcācāraya}} from {{langx|sa|पञ्चाचार्य|pañcācārya}}), or five [[acharya]]s: [[Renukacharya]], [[Darukacharya]], [[Ekorama]], [[Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu|Panditharadhya]], [[Vishwaradhya]], and first taught by Renukacharya to [[Agastya]], a Vedic seer. The preachings of Jagadguru Renukacharya Bhagavadpada to rishi Agastya is recorded in the form of a book, [[Siddhanta Shikhamani|''Shri Siddhantha Shikhamani'']], which is regarded as an important holy book for the Veerashaivas. This text is likely an 8th century work, and it likely contains the earliest reference to Veerashaivism in literature.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Dasgupta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_mcFFSJeJrEC&dq=Viranaradhya&pg=PA46|title=A History of Indian Philosophy: Volume 5|date=1955-01-02|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-04782-1|pages=46–47|language=en}}</ref>

Veershaivas commonly carry titles like [[Appa (title)|Appa]], [[Rao title|Rao]], [[Desai]] and so forth. Title of 'Prataprao' was given to Desai Mallasarja by [[Bajirao I|Bajirao Peshwa]] for his bravery.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&q=appa&pg=PA1512 |title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles |date=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-0-19-563357-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Naikar |first=Basavaraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X61ODQAAQBAJ&dq=Bajirao%20and%20Mallasarja&pg=PT39 |title=The Queen of Kittur: A Historical Novel |date=2016-10-17 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-4828-8619-1 |language=en}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":1" /> Viranaradhya is the father of the 18th-century Telugu Veerashaivite ''acharya'' [[Mulugu Papayaradhya]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Śrīrāmamūrti|first=Pōcañcarla|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GagPAAAAMAAJ|title=Contribution of Andhra to Sanskrit Literature|date=1972|publisher=Andhra University|pages=163|language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":1" />

==Panchacharyas==

According to tradition, the ''Panchacharyas'' arose out of five great ''Sthavaralingas''<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-IwRAQAAIAAJ&q=Sthavaralingas | title=Veerashaivism in India | date=22 January 1995 | publisher=Sadhana Book Stall }}</ref> located in Veerasimhasana of [[Balehonnur|Rambhapuri]] in Balehonnuru ([[Karnataka]]), [[Ujjain]] in [[Madhyapradesh]], [[Panch Kedar|Kedar]] in [[Uttarakhand]], [[Srisailam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], and [[Varanasi|Kashi]] or [[Banaras]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] under different names in different ''[[Yuga]]s''. The ''Panchacharyas'' established five ''peethas'', which play an important role in Veerashaiva.<ref>{{Cite book |last=eGangotri |url=http://archive.org/details/shri-jagadguru-panchacharya-vijay-marathi-shaiva-bharati-shodha-pratishthan |title=Shri Jagadguru Panchacharya Vijay ( Marathi) Shaiva Bharati Shodha Pratishthan}}</ref>

===The five peethas of Veerashaiva===

* Veerasimhasana of [[Balehonnur|Rambhapuri]] in Balehonnuru ([[Karnataka]])

* Saddharma Shimhasana of ([[Ujjain]]) ([[Madhyapradesh]]) later moved to [[Ujjini]] ([[Karnataka]])

* [[Kedarnath Temple|Vairagya Shimhasana]] of Kedar ([[Uttarakhand]])

* [[Srisailam| Surya Shimhasana]] of Srisailam ([[Andhra Pradesh]]) and

[[Varanasi|Jnana Shimhasana]] of Kasi ([[Uttar Pradesh]]) <ref>{{Cite book |last=Patil |first=Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R84n-Wv1S-8C&dq=five+peethas+of+virashaiva&pg=PA7 |title=Community Dominance and Political Modernisation: The Lingayats |date=2002 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-867-9 |language=en}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Burghart |first1=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9OHvEznKzcYC&q=kedar+virashaivism |title=Indian Religion |last2=Cantlie |first2=Audrey |date=1985 |publisher=Curzon Press |isbn=978-0-7007-0168-1 |language=en}}</ref>

==Philosophy==

The philosophy of Veerashaivism is explained in [[Siddhanta Shikhamani]]. While the Veerashaiva-tradition incorporates [[Vedas|Vedic]] elements, the origin of ''panchacharyas'' has been explained in [[Sivagamas]], especially in [[Svayambhuva Agama]], [[Suprabhedagama]] and [[Viragama]]. The earlier portions of [[Āgama (Hinduism)|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 [[Pashupata Shaivism|Pasupata]] Shaivism in its philosophy, in its doctrine of ''sthala,'' in the special kind of ''lingadharana,'' and in certain ritualistic elements.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pX_XAAAAMAAJ&q=veerashaiva+agama |title=Social Structure of the Veerashaiva Saints: Principles of Veerashaivism |date=1990 |publisher=M. Manjappa Hardekar |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghugare |first=Suryakant Balasaheb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-IwRAQAAIAAJ&q=veerashaiva+agama |title=Veerashaivism in India |date=1995 |publisher=Sadhana Book Stall |language=en}}</ref>