History

Sree Siddaganga Kshetra - History and Tradition

Sree Siddaganga Math (Shrine - a Holy Place) in India has been regarded as a place conjectured with knowledge and wisdom, religion and culture, secular and above all a place enshrined with Basava Philosophy of "MAHA DASOHA KSHETRA" (Offering Holy meals to pilgrims), and admired by entire society.

The Math has been working for the welfare of human race, aimed to build a secular and welfare India, through its creative and multifaceted activities in true letters and spirit of Basava and his disciples as envisaged in "Sarve Janaha Sukhino Bhavantu". The Heads of this Holy place have traced this path and their entire life was lived with the motto and mission "Work is Worship".

Sree Siddaganga Math is surrounded by hillocks. Some of the well knowns are: Ramagiri (or Ramalinga) Hills, Siddaganga Hills. These hillocks have number of caves with Shivalinga in them, and the caves have also become the places of research in Shaiva history. The famous Shivagange Hills is also located near Sree Siddaganga Math.

The Shivayogi's were saints with desire for spiritual attainments were always attracted to and attached to the purity of nature and its serene surroundings. They considered NATURE as the CREATOR's gift to the human beings, hence they never dissuaded it.

The caves of Sree Siddaganga hills are regarded as the residences of Shivayogis who took active role in the Basava movement of 12th Century A.D. We find even today many caves in Siddaganga and other hills; four in Ramalinga hills, three in Siddaganga hills and Seven-Eight caves in Shivaganga hills, and most of them are still in good condition.
A cave near Devarayapatna & inset Lord Siddalingeshwara Idol
A cave near Devarayapatna & inset Lord Siddalingeshwara Idol
Ariel view of Sree Siddaganga Math
Ariel view of Sree Siddaganga Math

Philosophical and Religious Background

"Shoonya Sampandane" the concept and work is regarded as one of the seminal literary and philosophical contributions of 12th century AD. It is found that the Siddaganga Math from the early years of its establishment had some links with this philosophy, as many sharanas from this place had created literary works on this subject. The well known among them are; Gummalapur Siddalingeshwara Shoonya Sampadane, Siddaveerannadeya Shoonya Sampadane and so on.

This kind of philosophical contribution by many sharanas of this place is aptly considered as responsible for the spread of the philosophy of Kalyana Basava and of his followers. Besides these versions of Shoonya Sampadane many literary and epical works of the highest order bear their origin to this place. This kind of a religious scenario is clearly observed in the geographical area spread between Hardanahalli to Mysore. The topographical area covering Siddaganga, Shivaganga, Gubbi, Yediyur, and Hardanahalli etc., was regarded as a place for spreading Sharana Sahitya (Literature), culture and the religious endowment from 12th to 18th century. This has been influenced by the contributions made by the sharanas of Basava period and the same tradition is followed by Sree Siddaganga.

The area is also endowed with religious movement, as the number of Math in and around the place has been found. The Shivaganaga had 64 Maths, few of which are in existence now. There were another 64 Maths, including the Sarpabhushan Math in the heart of Bangalore city. These were the abodes of great religious leaders who propagated the mission of "Work is Worship" the basic philosophy of Sree Basaveshwara.
labouroflove2

Siddaganga after Basava

After Kalyana Kranti (Revolution) in 12th Century many sharanas, and the desciples of Basava went to different places of the country. They used the hillocks, caves and the nearby Maths as their residences to undertake many social, religious and people oriented welfare activities. As such, Sree Channabasaveshwara the ardent desciple of Sree Basava went to a faraway place Ulavi in the thick forest of Supa Taluk of Western Ghats. Similarly, another group of desciples went Sree Shaila and yet another came to Shivaganga headed by Sree Chikka Siddesha.

From 15th century onwards, in number of places the tradition of Sharanas was spread such as in Gummalapur and so on. Three sharanas Revanasidda, Murulasidda and Siddamalla said to have moved from Shivaganga and they stayed in Ramagiri, Shivagiri, Siddagiri and Nelamane hills. Similarly, for many Sharanas the Siddaganga hills became their abodes.
Sree Basaveshwara

Establishment of Siddaganga Math

Sree Sree Ataveeshwara Swamigalu
Sree Sree Uddana Swamigalu
Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu
Sree Sree Siddalinga Swamigalu
Establishment of Siddaganga Math
The history of Sree Siddaganga Math starts from 14th century. The Holy names associated with the establishment and the growth of the Math is as follows;
  • Sree Hardanahalli Gosala Siddeshwara Swamigalu (c1300 – 1350)
  • Sree Hardanahalli Shankaracharya Swamigalu (c1393)
  • Sree Hardanahalli Gosala Channabasaveshwara Swamigalu
  • Sree Tontada Siddalingeshwara Swamiji (c1400 – 1480 A.D.)
Sree Haradanahalli Gosala Siddeshwara was the 15th in the order of peetacharya (Head of Math) of Niranjana Jagadguru. He handed over his headship to the next peetacharya in Haradanahalli and went to Shivaganga with his 101 followers to create his own independent place for his religiuos work. Then he moved to a hill near Keta Samudra (now Kyathasandra) from Shivaganga. He created 101 caves for his followers for study and meditation and also established the Math at Siddaganga.
To quench the thirst of one of his aged disciples Sree Gosala Siddesshwara hit the rock and a stream of water came out of that rock. The holy water was named as “Siddaganga” and the name was thus given to this place. This holy water has power to heal the mental and physical ailments and is used by all communities.
Sree Gosalasiddeshwara’s disciples, Sree Shankaracharya Swamiji continued his work till late 14th Century.
Sree Hardanahalli Gosala Channabasavarajendra Swamigalu followed his guru and came to Siddaganga. He lived in one of the caves of Siddganga hills for some time and afterwards he moved to Gubbi.
Sree Tontada Siddalingeshawara Swamiji, made a revolutionary contribution to the development of Siddaganga Math. Later, he moved to Yediyur and stayed there till his last breath. Though Gosala Siddeshwara was known to have established Siddaganga Math, Sree Sree Tontada Siddalingeshwara Swamiji regarded as its first Head. Most of the festivals of daily routine, the monthly, the annual and the car festival are since then held in his name.
No exact details on the development of Math are available after 15th century to 18th century.
A new era of developmental activities of Sree Siddaganga Math begins with Sree Atavee Swamigalu.
The history of Sree Siddaganga Math, in the last two centuries can be regarded as highly progressive due to its most revered, respected, humane, empowered with knowledge and wisdom of two of its greatest religious leaders. The first is Sree Sree Uddana Shivayogiglu and the second, His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu.