Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi was a twelfth century Kannada poet, saint, and mystic 

(c. 1130-1160), who followed the Virashaivaite bhakti tradition.

Akka Mahadevi’s devotion to Lord Shiva began from a very early age. As her devotion grew, her worship of Lord Shiva took on a madhurya form of devotion, where she saw the Lord as her only true love. She named him Chennamallikarjuna,, meaning “Lord As White As Jasmine.”

Akka Mahadevi was known for her stunning beauty, and described as having long black sensual tresses of hair. According to one popular and widely-accepted legend, she soon caught the eye of a local Jain king, Kaushika. When approached by King Kaushika for her hand in marriage, Akka Mahadevi reluctantly accepted, but only after the king agreed to her conditions of not interfering in her devotion to Lord Shiva or touching her in any way without her permission. 

Unfortunately as time passed, King Kaushika was unable to bear that his wife was devoted to another man (Lord Shiva) and angrily declared that he would not permit this anymore. 

Akka Mahadevi immediately left the palace grounds renouncing any material wealth that she had ever received by the king. 

She declared that Lord Shiva is her one and only husband. 

She discarded all her jewelry and clothes and proceeded in the nude to Srisailam, the place believed to be Lord Shiva’s abode.

Enroute to Srisailam, Akka Mahadevi was said to have stopped in the city of Kalyana, home to many learned poets and saints such as Basavanna and Allamaprabhu. Here, at the Anubhavamantapa, she took part in many spiritual discourses about philosophy and the attainment of moksha (enlightenment). Although she chose spiritual enlightenment and abandoned any worldly attachments, she did not achieve the respect of her male spiritual peers. They questioned her nakedness as a woman, even though it was normal for male ascetics. Her non-traditional, non-conformist ways were not easily accepted, but as time went on, her rebellious passion, rigorous devotion, and strength led her to being recognized as one of most prominent figures for female emancipation.

She eventually left Kalyana towards Srisailam, reciting the following translated vachana:

Having vanquished the six passions and become 

The trinity of body, thought and speech;

Having ended the trinity and become twain – I and the Absolute

Having ended the duality and become a unity

Is because of the grace of you all.

I salute Basavanna and all assembled here

Blessed was I by Allama my Master-

Bless me all that I may join my Chenna Mallikarjuna

Good-bye! Good-bye!

Akka Mahadevi is said to have ended her journey at Kadali, a thick-forested area in Srisailam where she finally achieved her dream and experienced her spiritual union with Lord Shiva, whom she lovingly named Chenna Mallikarjuna.

Her poetry exhibits her love for Chenna Mallikarjuna, harmony with nature and simple living:

“For hunger, there is the village rice in the begging bowl,

For thirst, there are tanks and streams and wells

For sleep temple ruins do well

For the company of the soul I have you, Chenna Mallikarjuna”