ANUBHAVA SAHITYA

The traditional account of origin of Virasaiva sect is derived from fire ascetics-
Ekorana, Panditaradhya, Revana , Marula and Visvaradhya. Who are mythically a
said to have appeared from the five lingas.

The doctrine traces its origin in the teachings of Vijayabhairavi Agama, Malini
Vijaya and Mahanirvana Tantra and depends less on the vedic sources though
Srikantha has authored a commentary on Brahmasutras in lines of Virasaiva
Philosophy.

The foundations of the Philosophy was laid by the Vacanas (songs in colloquial
language) by the trio-Allama Prabhu, Basava and Chenna Basava. In order to
propagate their philosophy, Anubhavamantapa an assembly of Saranaganas (devotes
of the sect) was established in the famous city of Kalyana in Karnataka for promotion
of spiritual discussion and exchange of Philosophical thought. All these have been
explained in detail by Siddhaviresvara in his "Sunyasampadana".

The voluminous literature of Vacanas of 12th century and ancient Agamas were
brought to life due to genuine efforts of preceptors such as :Mahalingadeva, Magge
Mayideva, Jakkanarya, and Giridhara .

Of these Magge Mayideva is best known as Sutrakara. He was born in 15th Cent.
A.D. hailed from a place called Magge near Aihole . He traces his origin to Upamanu
Sivacarya. His father Sangamesvaraprabhu, the fifth from Upamanyu along with his
other ancestors are hailed as great teachers of Saiva doctrine. He wrote Anubhava
Sutra(or Sahitya) apart from Sivambhara an appendix to Anubhava Sutra and a
commentary called Visesartha Prakasika. It is because of there was he has been hailed
as Sutrakara of Satsthala Siddhanta.

His works have been supplemented by Jakkanarya the author of

EkottaraSatasthali which was commented upon by Srigirindra. Virasaiva Sikharatna
records that MaggeMayideva was the teacher of Jakkanarya.

The main doctrine of Satshala Siddhanta is that there exist six states of Siva as
Bhakta, Mahesa, Prasadi, Pranalinga, Sarana and Aikya. Aikya is ultimately
identifying oneself with the Parasiva Brahma by attaining the Ekottarasata Sthala or
Jnanasunyasthala, a state when one will have no knowledge of being identified with
the universal being.

AnubhavaSutra proclaims that Parabhakti stands above Moksa for Moksa is not
held to be highest end of man, but forms only the gateway through which the soul has
to pass for realizing its divine possibilities of Self Adoration and Self-delight. This
doctrine is known as Fifth Purusartha, explicitly mentioned in Anubhava Sutra-

Dharmadi purusarthanam caturnam paratah para.

panvama purusartho hi bhaktih saivi sanatani.

The other works which suppliment Anubhava Sutras are SiddhantaSikhamani,

Sivadvaitadarpana, Siva-Stotravali and Virasaivasikharatna.

Bibliography:

Prabhugita: Ed.Prof.C.Mahadevappa, Pub.C.Mahadevappa, Banglore, 2001.

Comparitive study of SaranaDasa Literature:Dr.P.Srinivasa, Unviersity of

Madras,1981.

Notes on Religion & Philosophy: Gopinath Kaviraj, Sampurnanand Sanskrit

University,1987.