Karnataka witnessed one of the great revolutions of the world during the 12th Century A.D.
This socio-religious revolution was spearheaded by such great saints as Shri Basaveshwara,
Channabasaveshwara, Prabhudeva, Siddharameshwara, Mahādeviyakka and so on. Liberty, fraternity
and equality were the watch-words of the movement. Equal emphasis was laid on prospects of man
in this world as in the other. This world was considered to be the mint of the creator. Whoever
would fit here in this world would certainly fit in the other world. In fact, the Shiva-Sharanas,
as they were called, did not believe in the other world. Speaking the truth was heaven and telling
untruth hell. Good character was heaven and bad one hell.
"Speak the truth and translate it into action; this life itself will be an end unto itself through
the harmony between word and action." This was the message. Work itself was Kailasa. It was called
by a technical term 'Kāyaka' which was realised as a Kailāsa. One had to work honestly and earn
one's livelihood by righteous work. He was not to bother about tomorrow, and store things for the
future. Anything stored more than what was required for the day was considered to be stale. He had
to retain only that much which he would require for the day and the rest was to be offered to the
Jangamas for use of the society. They recognised the dignity of labour and considered all work to
have equal status. The hierarchy on which the age old Hindu society was based was discarded and the
new society was to be based on equality. Women were considered equal to men in all respects and all
socio-religious rights were given to them. They would no longer depend upon their husbands for their
salvation. The age-old concept that women were Shūdras was rooted out. There was no scope for the
concept of Shūdra in the new social order. Right from the prince to the peasant all were treated as
equals.
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It was the light of a new enlightened dawn which put to flight the darkness that had engulfed Hindu
Society. Mysticism was the soul of the Shivasharanas, but, they never took anything for granted unless
they were convinced of it. There are two types of mystics. One is the active type and other contemplative.
The first type of mystics would never confine himself only to the meditation and to the realisation of
his own soul. He was concerned about the liberation and upliftment of the society around him. Unless the
society was raised to sainthood, he would not be content. He would work and struggle hard for the
betterment of the world. He would accept everything offered to him as the Prasada or grace of God. The
mystics of this type glitter like gold within, though outwardly they looked like others. But the land
they tread would be transformed into a shrine and the water they touched would be teertha. Expression
but not suppression is the keynote of the philosophy of these Sharanas. It is the linga that is moving
in the human form of a Sharana. Basaveshwara and the other Shiva-sharanas of his times belong to this type.
The other type of mystics would confine themselves to their meditation and would recede from the wordly
activities. They would see the society in their linga and serve the same through their worship or kriyā,
whereas the Shivasharanas of the 12th century saw the linga in their work. When one is engaged in work,
one would even forget one's linga, because work itself is worship of linga. The whole society is a moving
linga to them. Judged by any standard, this was one of the great revolutions in human history. It has left
its footprints that are visible even to this day.
The Shivayogiswara of Athani
It has been the good fortune of Karnataka to have had a steady and continuous flow of mystics. One such
great mystic flourished at a place called Athani in Belgaum District in Karnataka. Athani is a small
taluka place with all the rural set up. A Shivayogi popularly known as Athani Shivayogi was born there.
Rachayya and Nilambike were his parents. At the age of 5, the boy Gurulinga was left to the care of a
great saint Marula Shankara. Through meditation and Linga-puja he rose to divine heights. He would never
aspire for anything in the world. He would not touch wealth in any form.
The vachanas of Shivasharanas reveal the highest state of realisation as Bayalu or Belagu. Six months before
he breathed his last, the Shivayogi of Athani would see linga everywhere. He saw Divine light within and
around him. At times he was performing the worship of the universal Linga. He felt as if the Işta Linga was
always on his left palm and his right hand poured water over it. The sky was a linga and the stars were the
flowers for His Worship.
It was the Shivayogi of Athani who hallowed this land after Prabhudeva of the 12th Century and Tonţadărya of
the 15th. A unique saint of the highest mystic order, the Shivayogi of Athani could rise on the banks of the
river Krishņā during 1836-1921 A.D. He was as it were an incarnation of Divine light. The great saint merged
in the Linga in 1921 (Shalivahana Shaka 1843, Chaitra Vadya Pratipada).
- A tribute to the great saints
