NIJAGUNA SHIVAYOGI
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1.
Nijaguna Shivayogi
(ನಿಜಗುಣ ಶಿವಯೋಗಿ)
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nijaguNa shivayOgi
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16th
Century
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Galipura, Shmabhulingana
Betta,
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Veerashaiva, A disciple of Jiguni Marularya
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Titles:
Nil
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Medieval
Karnataka has created many personalities who have made unique contributions to their
culture both by their teachings and life style. Nijaguna
Shivayogi the philosopher saint of sixteenth century
was one such person. He did not create poetry of great merit but the sum total of
his work is much more meaningful than that of a poet. He played a crucial role in
giving a knowledge base to the Veerashaiva religion,
along with many of his contemporaries. Veerashaivism
had moved to the south Karnataka and important monasteries were springing by the
dozen. Tumakur, Yedeyur,
Yelandur and many more places housed mutts like this.
Nijaguna must have lived a life which was full of rich
experiences of the material world, before he took up to ascetic life. He was a bilingual
writer in Sanskrit and Kannada. Some of his works are translations and some are
adaptations. But most of them are original works. A brief introduction to his major
works is provided here:
1. purAtanara
trividhi: This short work is a collection of seventy
seven stanzas
composed in the
Tripadi meter. The sixty three saints from Choladesha
who are celebrated in the Tamil work Periya
Purana are praised in these poems, starting from Tiruneelakatha
to Karikalamme. These sixty three poems are preceded
by nine introductory poems and succeeded by five poems that conclude the eulogy.
Each poem gives a brief summary of the life of the relevant saint. Some of the introductory
poems are quite lyrical. For instance the oneness of Shiva is compared to the union
of the fragrance and the flower, moon light and the coolness.
2. kaivalya
paddhati: This is a collection of fifty nine songs
which are set to different raagas of Karnataka music.
They have Shambhulinga as their Ankita.
It is divided in to five parts namely Shivakarunya
Sthala, Jeeva
Sambodhana Sthala, Neethikriyaacharyasthala,
Yogapratipadanaasthala and Jnaanapratipadanasthala.
These five can be connected to Shat Sthala of Veerashaiva theology. These songs combine Bhakti,
Jnana and Anubhaava
in an inimitable way. These songs continue the tradition of Tatvada
Pada (Philosophical Songs) in their own way. Many of
them contain beautiful images and various figures of speech.
3. parmAnuBva
bOdha: this is another work which runs to more than
one hundred and fifty pages. It is divided in to twenty two chapters. Actually the
author turns away from the proper Veerashaiva texts
and turns towards Upanishads. This work is a translation of the philosophical discussion
that takes place between Yajnavalkya and
Maitryee. This book contains six Sandhis,
122 sutras and 985 poems composed in the Sangatya
which again is musical. Nijaguna has tried to adapt
the teachings of Upanishads and Agamas so as to suit the tenets of
Veerashaivism. This is acknowledged by scholars like Dr L.
Basavaraju.
4. Paramartha
Geethe: This is a work consisting of eleven sections
each section containing eleven ragales.
Paramartha Geethe is composed in the form
of a dialogue between a master and his disciple. This is a simple and lucid summary
of the Sanskrit book, Yoga Vasishta.
5. Anubhavasara: This is again construed in the form of question
and answers. It
contains summary and explicatory
remarks about the ten important Upanishats. This is
composed in the Tripadi meter.
6. Viveka Chintamani: This is a popular encyclopedia containing
ten sections. The author has made use of many sources in Sanskrit and Kannada. The
first three chapters delineate Vedas, Upanishats, Shaiva agamas and the nature of the universe. The fourth
chapter covers the earth, poetry and its antecedents, sexology and fine arts. Next
two chapters discuss the ocean and disciplines such as astronomy and astrology.
The last chapters focus on religious matters. Essentially this is an encyclopedia
that deals more with philosophy and religion rather than the matters pertaining
to our world.
7. Paaramartha
Prakashike: This is a Kannada translation of Shivayoga Pradeepike written
in Sanskrit by Chenna Sadashivayogi.
This contains five chapters and is a simple primer on the discipline of Yoga. There
is a detailed presentation of Hatayoga and
Tarakayoga in this work.
8. Svaroopa Siddhi Teeke: This is a commentary
on Anubhavamukura written by Paranjyothi
Yathi. Each poem gets a detailed explanation. The commentator
goes to the Sanskrit originals wherever necessary.
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Work:
Poetry: 1. purAtanara trividhi
2. kaivalya
paddhati 3. paramAnubBvabOdhe
4. paramarthageete 5. anuBvasAra
Prose: 1. vivEka cintAmaNi 2.
pAramArtha prakAshike
3. svarUpasiddhi
TIke.
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References: 1. Nijagunara Samagra Kruthigalu (Two volumes)
Edited by Dr S.Vidyashankara, 1995, Directorate of Kannada
and Culture,
2. Nijaguna Shivayogi,
H.Gangadharan, 1984.
3. Nijaguna Shivayogiya
Tattvadarshana (A simple translation of six
important works of Nijaguna
Shivayogi, with a scholarly introduction) by Dr L.Basavaraju,
4.Kaivalya
Koustubha, A Commemoration
Volume.
5. Nijaguna Shivayogi, H.
Tipperudraswamy, D.V.K.Murthy
Prakashana,