Panchacharyas

2026-03-19T14:50:09Z

71.6.66.194:

{{Short description|Religious figures of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Panchacharyas
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Iconography
| first_major = [[Siddhanta Shikhamani]]
| first_minor =
| first_date =
| adapted_by = Panchapeethas
| portrayer = Shivayogi Shivacharya
| full_name = Jagadguru Panchacharya
| gender = Male
| occupation =
| affiliation = {{hlist|[[Telugu Brahmin|Telugu aradhya brahmins]]|[[Vedic priesthood]]}}
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Panchacharyas''' are religious figures of Veerashiva denomination of [[Shaivism]]. 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 [[Shivalingam]]s of the Panchapeethas. They are seated in Panchapeethas (five monasteries) known as Veera (Rambhapuri), [[Ujjini#Marulasiddeswara_Temple|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.<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>

==History==
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|bar23-text= Controversy
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|legend1=Telugu aradhya brahmin
|legend1-colour=darkblue
|legend2=Chathuracharyas
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|legend3=Panchacharyas
|legend3-colour=darkgreen

|note1= {{small|Siddhanta Shikhamani a Sanskrit language mythological fiction published in between 1430-1490}}
|note1-at =-1460

|note2= {{small|Veerashaivamrutha Purana a Sanskrit language mythological fiction published in 1530}}
|note2-at =-1530

|note3= {{small|Chathuracharya Purana a Sanskrit language mythological fiction published in 1698}}
|note3-at =-1680

|note4= {{small|Chathuracharyas take overs Jangamawadi math from [[Natha Sampradaya|Natha tradition]], appoints new acharya, later they crowned themselves as Panchacharyas}}
|note4-at =-1880

|note5= {{small|Shri Shaila Peetha converted from [[Telugu Brahmin|Telugu aradhya brahmin]] tradition to [[Lingayatism]]}}
|note5-at =-1370

|note6= {{small|Rambapuri peetha was converted from [[Natha Sampradaya|Natha tradition]] to [[Lingayatism|Veerashaiva]]}}
|note6-at =-1610

|note7= {{small|Some of Telugu aradhaya brahmins migrated to Kannada region}}
|note7-at =-1320

|note8= {{small|Ujjaini and Kedara Peetha converted from [[Natha Sampradaya|Natha tradition]] to [[Lingayatism|Veerashaiva]]}}
|note8-at =-1570

|note9= {{small|Claim as Panchacharyas are founder of [[Lingayatism|Veerashaivas]]}}
|note9-at =-1930
|note10= {{small|Iconography of a sage standing on [[lingam|Shivalingam]]}}
|note10-at =-1950
}}
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]], and they started to mix Lingayatism and brahminism, but did not stop their Brahminism. Similar to their past Brahmanical '''Acharya Traya''', meaning three sages ([[Adi Shankara|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, and Panchacharyas are the founders of [[Veerashaivism]], they created mythological fiction [[Siddhanta Shikhamani]], manipulated [[Agama (Hinduism)|agama]] and other [[Shaiva]] literature, republished it as Veerashaivaagama to support their claims.<ref name=Wire /><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>
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.<ref name=":1" /><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>
<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>

==Siddhanta Shikhamani==
[[Siddhanta Shikhamani]] is a Sanskrit language mythological fiction of 15th century written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is also known as ''Renukagastya samvada''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prasoon |first1=Prasoon |title=Indian saints and sages |date=2009 |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=9788122310627 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2Lp1GOx010C |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref><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>
In 21st century Siddhantha Shikhamani was translated to Kannada by Dr Chandrashekhara Shivacharya swamiji head of one of the Panchapeetha.<ref name="MSS">M. Sivakumara Swamy, translator (2007){{full citation needed|date=November 2021}}</ref>
<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>

===Summery of Siddhanta Shikhamani===
{{Blockquote
|text=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 [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agamas]], It claims Renukaradhya arose out of five great [[Lingam|Sthavaralingas]], in different yugas they were dharma pracharaks in the [[Krita Yuga|Krutayuga]], [[Treta Yuga|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.
|author=Summery
|title=Siddhantha Shikhamani
|source={{nowrap|15th century mythological fiction}}<ref name=Wire /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chandrashekhara Shivacharya |title=Shri Siddhanta Shikhaamani Paraamarshe |date=2017 |publisher=Sha. Bra. Sri Dr. Mahantalinga Shivacharya Swamigalavara Pattaadhikara Rajata Mahotsava Samiti |location=Managuli, Vijapura}}</ref><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>
}}
Based on this book the Panchapeethas claimed Panchacharyas are a founders of [[Lingayatism| 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|Lingayatism or Veerashaiva]] by [[Basava]] and there is no mention of any of this Panchacharyas in any Hindu literatures or inscriptions which predates 15th century.<ref name="Wire">{{Cite web |title=Making Sense of the Lingayat vs Veerashaiva Debate |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/history/karnataka-lingayat-veerashaive-debate |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=thewire.in |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref name=Wire />

==Iconography==
===A sage emerging from Shivalingam===
Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhyas are called as Panchacharyas, their iconography is a sage emerging from [[Shivalingam]], it is based on [[Siddhanta Shikhamani]], as per this mythology Renukaradhya is said to have been emerged from the Someshwara lingam in Kolanupaka of [[Telangana]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=A handbook of Vīraśaivism|last=Nandimath|first=S.C.|publisher=L.E. Association|year=1942|location=Dharwar, S. India|pages=14–15}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180">
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
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Veerashaiva Panchacharyas (Facts vs Fiction) by Dr. G. R. Channabasappa (in Kannada and English). JLMS.[https://jlms.in/shop/veerashaiva-panchacharyas-facts-vs-fiction]

[[Category:Hindu religious leaders]]

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Panchacharyas