BHUSANURAMATHA S.S., 1910-1991

Sangayya Shivamurtayya Bhusanuramatha, (sangayya shivayya BUsanUramaTha) (ಸಂಗಯ್ಯ ಶಿವಯ್ಯ ಭೂಸನೂರುಮಠÀ) like many of his contemporaries was a combination of creativity, scholarship and critical acumen. This multifaceted talent is reflected in his works, particularly those dealing with vachanas. He was born in Nidagundi a small village in the Ron talluk of Dharawada district. After elementary education in Gadaga and Hubli he obtained his B.A. degree with Kannada as his major subject (1935) and later an M.A. degree (1937) in the same subject both form the University of Bombay. He started his teaching career in Karnataka College Dharawada in 1939 and then moved on to Lingraj College, Belgaum (1943-66). He switched over to Karnataka University, Dharawada as a Professor of Veerashaiva Literature and Religion in the Institute of Kannada Studies. (1966-71)

Bhusanuramatha has rendered yeoman service to Vachana literature in many capacities. He has edited many works related to that field. They are listed below.

1. ‘bhakthisudhAsAra’, ghanamaThada shivayOgi(1945)

2. ‘gururAja cAritra’, SiddhananjEsha(1950)

3. ‘mOLige mArayyana vachangaLu’, (1950)

4. ‘rANi mahAdEviyammana vachanagaLu’, (1950)

5. ‘mOligeyyana purANa’, gaurAnka, (1951)

6. ‘prauDharAyana kAvya’, adrushyakavi, (1957)

7. ‘shUnyasampAdane’, gULUru siddavIraNNoDeya, (1958)

8. ‘Ekottarashatasthala’, mahAlingadEvaru, (1974)

In addition to these texts he has edited an anthology of vachanas for the Government of Karnataka, with a brilliant introduction. ‘lingalIlAvilAsa’ by ‘kallumaThada prbhudEvaru’ in another of his collections which need to be mentioned.

Bhusanuramatha has published ‘Shunyasampadne’ an important philosophical/literary text of Kannada in five volumes with English translation and transliteration, for the Karnataka University. He could not edit the fifth of these because of his superannuation. This is a unique contribution with a valuable introduction and many useful appendices.

‘Shunya Sampadaneya Paramarshe’(shUnya sampAdaneya parAmarshe) which won him the Central Sahitya Academy award in 1971 is his magnum opus and his various skills are synthesised here. This is a detailed study of Veerashiava philosophy, religion, theology and the modes in which these aspects have come together in vachanas to give rise to literature of the highest quality. The author has delineated his subject also in the backdrop of Western Philosophy and Scientific knowledge. These things are narrated in an extremely lyrical yet lucid style which is very hard to find in that genre of writing. The style is very intimate and analytical. The author assumes that the reader is fellow traveler and takes him on a journey of self discovery. The book is also important because the Veerashaiva religion and Shivasharanamovement portrayed here are among the seminal contributions of Karnataka to Indian culture.

During his last few years, Bhusanuramatha created an epic in Kannada called ‘Bhavya Manava’ (bhavya mAnava) with Akka Mahadevi the great saint-poetess of the twelfth century as the protagonist. ‘Kalyanadinda Kashmirakke’ (kalyANdinda kAshmIrakke) is another publication by Bhusanuramatha.

He has won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy (1969) in addition to the prestigious Central Sahitya Academy award. ‘Pampa Prashasti’ was conferred on him posthumously for his ‘Shunya Sampadaneya Paramarshe’.

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