Anubhava Sahitya

ANUBHAVA SAHITYA The traditional account of origin of Virasaiva sect is derived from fire asceticsEkorana, 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 SutraDharmadi 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

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SaranaDasa

Literature:Dr.P.Srinivasa,

Unviersity

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Madras,1981. Notes on Religion & Philosophy: Gopinath Kaviraj, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University,1987.