Siddheshwar also known as Siddharamaeshwara and Siddharama
was one among the five acharya of the Lingayat faith. Siddheshwar was a great
contributor to Lingayat religion. He was a great mystic and a Kannada poet who
was a part of Basavanna's Lingayat revolution during the 12th century. His
philosophy was one of service to mankind, the path of karmayoga. Siddarama was instrumental in saving the vachana literature from destruction.
Siddharama (c.1150) claimed to have written 68,000 vachanas out of which only 1379 are available. Along with Basava,
Allama Prabhu, Devara Dasimayya and Channabasava,
Siddharama is regarded as the most acknowledged and respected poets. Vachanakaras wrote in the genre of Lingayats,
under Kannada literature from the mystic period. He shares the world view of
other vachana poets in his rejection
of blind conventions of caste and sex discrimination and emphasis on realization through
personal experience. He too borrows metaphors from diverse spheres of everyday
life. Apart from vachanas, he has
written several devotional works in tripadi. writing three-line verse, used from the 7th century.
Siddarama
at Srisailam:
Siddarama was the son of Muddanna and Suggaladevi, born in Solapur,
Maharashtra. When Siddarama was seven years old, Shiva appeared in the guise of a Jangama Swamiji and called
himself Mallinatha from Srisailam.
The place where Mallinatha met Siddharama is known as 'Gurubhet', which is now in front of the Collector's Bungalow in
Solapur. This Jangama
requested Siddharama to serve him hot fried tender Jowar. Next he demanded
curd-rice in order to soothe the burning sensation in his stomach. Siddharama
ran to his home and asked his mother for curd-rice. On his return to the
fields, he searched for him, shouting, "Mallayya, Mallayya" did not
find him. There he inquired the Kawadi
Jangamas who were on a pilgrimage to Shrishailaa.
They promised to show him Mallayya. His quest for Mallayya made him determined
to go to Shrishaila.
At Shrishaila Siddarama was shown the Mallikarjuna
Jyotirlinga, but this linga of black stone did not please him. Then he inquired
every object and every person about the whereabouts of Mallayya running over
the length and breadth of Shrishaila. Siddharama began to weep. His tears were
collected in a tank in the ground, which presently became known as Nayan-Kunda. When Siddeshwar reached the brink of a very deep valley
called 'Rudrakada' and peeping down he yelled out "Mallayya, Mallayya!,
but Mallayya did not appear. As Siddharama was about to jump in the valley,
Lord Mallikarjun (Mallinatha) appeared and caught hold of him by his hands. The
Lord pacified him and offered 'Vajrakundala'
and 'Yoga Danda' which possesses the
potential to fulfill all wishes.
He visualized Mallayya telling him to return to Sonnalige
and work towards making it the second Srishailam. The Lord Mallinatha asked Siddharama
to return to Sonnalgie to end grief on earth. The Lord Mallinatha assured him
that he himself would appear in the form of Shivalinga in Sonnalgie.
To this day Siddha Ramappa Kola, a beautiful scenic spot can
be seen located just a kilometre from main Srisailam temple, on its northern
side.
Siddarama
at Sonnalgie
Shivayogi Siddharama returned to Sonnalgie; the ruler of
that time Nannappa and his wife Chamala
Devi gave him 5 Kosha land as they were told to do by a vision of Lord Shiva.
Shivayogi Siddharama consecrated 68 lingas
by the holy hands of Jagadguru Kapilasiddha Panditardhya, within the Panch
Crosh of Sonnalgie making Sonnalgie a
"Kshetra"
(holy place). He saw divinity in every existence of the world. As part of Sharana
revolution in the 12th century, he encouraged inter-caste marriages. Siddarama
involved himself in public works. He undertook many irrigation projects for the
common good. He dug lakes and built temples. He encouraged people to conduct
mass weddings, and do other public works, which would benefit mankind. Many
people joined him in transforming Sonnalige.
Siddarama
at Kalyana
Allama Prabhu’s purpose was to make Siddharama worship Ishtalinga. Hence he proposed that Siddharama
should accompany him to Kalyana, which was then the home of Basavanna and Ishtalinga worship. At Anubhava Mantapa Allama, Siddarama, Chennabasavanna, Basavanna
and others discussed the need for Istalinga.
Siddarama accepted Chennabasavanna as his Guru.
Chennabasavanna performed the Istalinga
initiation for Siddarama. After his initiation, Siddarama made rapid progress
along the path of Shivayoga, and in course of time succeeded Chennabasavanna on
Shunya Simhasana, or the pontificial
throne. Siddarama participated in various discussions of the Anubhavamantapa.
These discourses made him a Shiva yogi.
Siddarama
Back at Sonnalige
He returned to Sonnalige and entrusted his work to Havinahala Kallaiah. He constructed a cave in the middle of a lake. There he practiced Shiva yoga until he attained his Ikya state.