| Chaturacharyas | |
| First Major: | Siddhanta Shikhamani |
| First Date: | 15th century |
| Adapted By: | Panchapeethas |
| Portrayer: | Shivayogi Shivacharya |
| Full Name: | Jagadguru Panchacharya |
| Gender: | Male |
| Occupation: | Self-styled Godmans |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
Panchacharyas (sa|पञ्चाचार्य), previously known as Chaturacharyas (sa|चातुराचार्य), are controversial religious figures of India. Panchacharya means five sages, referring to Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishwaradhya, their iconography is sage standing on Shivalingam. They are seated in Panchapeethas (five monasteries) known as Veera (Rambhapuri), Saddharma (Ujjaini), Vairagya (Kedar), Surya (Srisailam), and Jnana (Kashi) Shimhasanas. Renukacharya is first mentioned in Siddhanta Shikhamani, a 15th century mythological fiction of Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is regarded as holy book for the Panchapeethas.[1] Based on this book the Panchapeethas claimed Panchacharyas are a founders of Lingayatism or Veerashaiva, however this claim is rejected by researchers and opinioned Siddhanta Shikhamani is mythological fiction not a history, it is written after a centuries of founding Lingayatism or Veerashaiva by Basava and their is no mention of any of this Panchacharyas in any Hindu literatures or inscriptions which predates 15th century.[2]
Panchacharyas origin is traced to Siddhanta Shikhamani a 15th century mythological fiction of Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, During 14th century some Telugu aradhya brahmin priests migrated to Kannada region due to rise of Vaishnava dominance in Telugu region, they mesmerized by the large following of Lingayatism, they started to adopt ishtalinga worship, but didn't stopped their brahminism, and they started to mix Lingayatism and brahminism. Similar to their past brahmanical Acharya Traya, meaning three sages (Adishankaracharya, Madhavacharya, Ramanujacharya, and their peethas), the five priest among the migrant five sages crowned themselves as a Panchacharyas and established panchpeethas, which are named after famous shiva temples to gain popularity, and they started to claim themselves as a founder of Lingayatism, they created mythological fiction Siddhanta Shikhamani, manipulated agama and other Shaiva literature, republished it as Veerashaivaagama to support their claims.[3] [4] A small manuscript named Acharya-Guru-Parampara details the following guru lineage of Panchapeethas ; Visvesvara Guru, Ekorama, Viresaradhya, Virabhadra, Viranaradhya, Manikyaradhya, Buccayyaradhya, Vira Mallesvaradhya, Desikaradhya, Vrsabha, Aksaka, and Mukha Lingesvara.[5] [6]
Siddhantha Shikhamani is a Sanskrit language mythological fiction of 15th century written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is also known as Renukagastya samvada.[7] [8] In 21st century Siddhantha Shikhamani was translated to Kannada by Chandrashekhara Shivacharya swamiji head of one of the Panchapeetha.[9] [10]
Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, Vishwaradhyas are called as Panchacharyas, their iconography is a sage standing on Shivalingam, it is based on Siddhanta Shikhamani, as per this mythology Revanaradya is said to have been born from the Someshwara lingam in Kolanupaka of Telangana.[11]