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{{Short description|Indian philosopher of Veerasaiva school}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu
| pseudonym =
| birth_place = [[Draksharama]] (present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]])<ref name="SalvaKrishnamurti"/>
| birth_date = c. 1110 CE<ref name="Lalitamba"/>
| death_date = c. 1185 CE<ref name="Lalitamba"/>
| death_place = Vellaturu (present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]])<ref name="YasodaDevi"/>{{rp|129}}
| occupation = Poet, Philosopher
| period = 12th century
| genre = {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Śaiva}} literature
| notableworks = {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Śivatattvasāramu}}
| spouse =
| movement = [[Bhakti movement]], [[Veerashaivism]]
| native_name = మల్లికార్జున పండితారాధ్యుడు
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| native_name_lang = te
| children = Kēdārayya Pandita<ref name="Lalitamba1981"/>
}}

'''Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu''' ({{IPA|te|ˈmallikaːɾd͡ʒunpaɳɖitaːɾaːdʱjuɖu|lang}}, {{langx|te|మల్లికార్జున పండితారాధ్యుడు|Mallikārjuna Paṇḍitārādhyuḍu}}) was an Indian philosopher of [[Veerashaiva|Veerasaiva]] school and a [[Telugu language|Telugu]] poet from Andhra region. He was a poet in the court of [[Velanati Chodas|Velanati Choda]] king [[Rajendra Choda II]].<ref name="YasodaDevi"/> His {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Śivatatvasāramu}} was the first independent Telugu work. Being a unique person of his era he contributed in spreading [[Saivism]] throughout Andhra region. He was credited with ending the remnants of Buddhism in Andhra land through his intellect and influence.<ref name="YasodaDevi"/>{{rp|129}} For his prowess in Telugu language, he was generally referred to as {{langx|te|కవిమల్లు|Kavimallu|Wrestler among poets}}.<ref name="ChilukuriNarayanRao1939"/>

==Birth and early life==
Mallikarjuna was born at [[Draksharama]] in c. 1110 CE in a Saivite family.<ref name="Lalitamba"/> His parents were Bhimana pandita and Gouramba.<ref name="SalvaKrishnamurti">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D5YOAAAAYAAJ|title= A History of Telugu Literature: 1108 A.D.-1320 A.D|publisher= Institute of Asian Studies|year=1994|language=English|last1=Salva |first1= Krishnamurthi |last2=Shu |first2= Hikosaka |last3=G. |first3= John Samuel}}</ref><ref name="Lalitamba1981">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yusXAAAAIAAJ|title= Vīraśaivism in Āndhra|publisher= P.R. Krishnamurty|year=1981|language=English|last1=K. |first1= Lalitamba|page=29}}</ref> His father was a priest in the Bhimeswara Temple at Drakasharama, which was one of the [[Pancharama Kshetras]] and also locally referred as {{IAST|Dakṣiṇakāśi}} (lit. [[Varanasi|Kasi]] in the South).<ref name="SalvaKrishnamurti"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N_3fAAAAMAAJ|title= Fairs and Festivals of India|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|year=2003|language=English|last1= Bezbaruah|first1= Madan Prasad|page=21}}</ref> His family followed Rgveda and of Gautama gotra.<ref name="YasodaDevi"/>{{rp|129}} His guru was Aradhyadeva of [[Kotipalli]] from whom he received knowledge about [[Saivism]].<ref name="SrinivasChary">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E3rXAAAAMAAJ|title=The Hindu Temple Traditions of Draksharama|year=1994|language=English|page=69|last1=M.|first1= Srinivas Chary|isbn=9780773467651}}</ref> His birth anniversary is observed by some saivites during the month of [[Mīna|Meena]] (i.e. mid-March to mid-April) on the day of [[Shravana|Sravana]] [[nakshatra]]m.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zseCqGFRpyQC|title=The Mysore|publisher= Mittal Publications|year=1932|language=English|editor-last1= Iyengar |editor-first1= Venkatesa |page=43}}</ref>

==Works==
Mallikarjuna wrote {{transliteration|te|ISO|Śivatattvasāramu}} which was the first independent work in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]. It had 489 short verses and contains information about the Saivism preached by him.<ref name="Lalitamba">{{cite journal |last1= K.|first1=Lalithamba |date= 1978|title= DEVOTIONAL SAIVISM IN MEDIEVAL ANDHRA |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139392|journal= Indian History Congress |volume= 39 |pages=535–538 |access-date= 17 March 2024}}</ref> He later translated that work into [[Kannada language|Kannada]]. It is one of the earliest [[Shataka|Satakas]] in Telugu literature.<ref name="YasodaDevi"/>{{rp|131}} His works are placed in the 'Siva Kavi era' of Telugu literature which roughly corresponds to the period between 1100 CE and 1250 CE.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hc5jAAAAMAAJ|title= Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788126018031|year=2008|language=English|editor-last1=Datta|editor-first1=Amaresh|page=984}}</ref> The trio of [[Nanne Choda]], Mallikarjuna and [[Palkuriki Somanatha|Somanatha]] are referred as '''{{transliteration|kn|ISO|Śivakavitrayam}}''' (i.e. Trio of Saivite Poets). These trio along with Piduparthi poets and Yathavakkula Annamayya pioneered Veera Saiva movement in Andhra region.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xYhkAAAAMAAJ|title= Major Genres and Trends in Dravidian Literature|publisher= Dravidian University|year=2003|language=English|editor-last1=R.|editor-first1=Sri Hari|page=49}}</ref> Some other works by Mallikarjuna include {{transliteration|te|ISO|Lingōdbhava Gadyam}}, {{transliteration|te|ISO|Amarēśvara Śatakam}}, {{transliteration|te|ISO|Gangā Sahasramāla}} and {{transliteration|te|ISO|Rudramahima}}.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC|title= Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788126018031|year=1987|language=English|editor-last1=Datta|editor-first1=Amaresh|page=984}}</ref>

== Contribution to Saivism ==
Mallikarjuna was influenced by [[Basaveswara]]. He seems to be the very first Telugu poet who laud [[Basaveswara]] in Andhra region.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ll4JAQAAIAAJ|title= Palkuriki Somanatha : On the Life and Works of Palakuriki Somanatha, 13th Century Telugu and Kannada Poet|publisher= Prasaranga, University of Mysore|year=1980|language=English|editor-last1=Callā |editor-first1= Rādhākr̥ṣṇaśarma |page=41}}</ref> He contributed to the emergence of ''Aradhya sect'' which encompasses elements from Vedic traditions and Veerashaivism.<ref name="AyyappaPaniker">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC|title= Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|year=1997|language=English|isbn=81-260-0365-0|editor-last1=Paniker|editor-first1=K. Ayyappa|page=542}}</ref> Mallikarjuna, {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Śripati Paṇḍita}} and {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Mancanna Paṇḍita}} (also known as Sivalenka) are prominent among founders of Panditaradhya saivite sects during Middle Ages in Andhra region.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zseCqGFRpyQC|title=The Mysore|publisher= Mittal Publications|year=1932|language=English|editor-last1= Iyengar |editor-first1= Venkatesa |page=35}}</ref> These three were referred as '''{{transliteration|kn|ISO|Paṇḍitatrayam}}''' (i.e. Trio of Scholars) in Veera Saiva tradition. These three were disciples of Basava. The descendants of Mallikarjuna came to be known as Aradhya Saivites. However, Mallikarjuna differs from Basava on the aspects of the authority of Vedas and Varna system. Nevertheless, few centuries later the amicable relations between Aradhya saivism of Mallikarjuna and Lingayatism of Basava became a necessity in the wake of Islamic invasions from the North (i.e. [[Delhi Sultanate]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ll4JAQAAIAAJ|title= After The Kaktiyas|publisher= Andhra Sahitya Academy|year=1975|language=English|page=11}}</ref>

==Biography==
Veerasaivite poet [[Palkuriki Somanatha]] wrote '{{transliteration|kn|ISO|Paṇḍitārādhyacaritamu}}' which contains a legendary biography of Mallikarjuna.<ref name="YasodaDevi">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o63Hau4If3cC|title= The History of Andhra Country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D.: Administration, literature and society|publisher= Gyan Publishing House|year=1993|language=English|isbn=9788121204859|author=Yasoda Devi}}</ref>{{rp|127}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5hwABAAAQBAJ|title= Siva's Warriors|publisher= Princeton University Press|year=2014|language=English|isbn=9781400860906|editor-last1=Roghair|editor-first1=Gene H.|editor-last2=Velchuru|editor-first2=Narayana Rao}}</ref> This work belongs to the {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Caritrakāvyamu}} genre of [[Telugu literature]] that contains generally legendary biographies of a notable personality.<ref name="AyyappaPaniker"/> With an initiative by [[Andhra Patrika]] founder and freedom fighter [[Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao]], the historian and Telugu scholar [[Chilukuri Narayana Rao]] edited this work by Somanatha after referring to some ancient palmleaf manuscripts. It was later published under the name {{transliteration|kn|ISO|Paṇḍitārādhyacaritra}} in 1939.<ref name="ChilukuriNarayanRao1939">{{Cite book |title=పండితారాధ్య చరిత్ర|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.371006|year=1939|publisher=Andhra Patrika Printing Press|location=[[Chennai|Madras]]|language=Telugu|editor=[[Chilukuri Narayana Rao]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Palkuriki Somanatha]]
*[[Basava]]
*[[Veerashaivism]]
*[[Lingayatism]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panditaradhyudu, Mallikarjuna}}
[[Category:Lingayat poets]]
[[Category:Lingayatism]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
[[Category:Telugu poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:12th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Scholars from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Shaivite religious leaders]]
[[Category:12th-century Indian philosophers]]

Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu - Revision history

Srcsdoon at 09:23, 20 March 2026