NIJAGUNA SHIVAYOGI
1
1. Nijaguna Shivayogi (ನಿಜಗುಣ
ಶಿವಯೋಗಿ)
2
nijaguNa shivayOgi
3
16th
Century
4
Galipura, Shmabhulingana Betta,
5
Veerashaiva, A disciple of Jiguni Marularya
6
Titles:
Nil
7
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.
8
Work:
Poetry: 1. purAtanara trividhi
2. kaivalya paddhati 3. paramAnubBvabOdhe
4. paramarthageete 5. anuBvasAra
Prose: 1. vivEka
cintAmaNi 2. pAramArtha
prakAshike 3. svarUpasiddhi
TIke.
9
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,