Panchacharyas

Philoshophers and founders of veerashaivaism

According to popular view, and one backed by historical and literary evidence, the Veerashaiva sect was founded by the Panchacharyas or the Five Teachers. This view however, is in the realm of mythology and this mythology is supported by historical and literary evidence those are available at Allahabad High Court and Jangamwadimath of Kashi (Proof needed)

It is believed that the Panchacharyas arose out of five great Sthavaralingas located in Balehonnur in Karnataka, Ujjini in Karnataka, Kedar in Uttarakhand, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and Kashi or Banaras in Uttar Pradesh under different names in different Yugas.

The five Panchacharyas are

The tradition of Virasaiva sect was founded by five ascetics- Revana, Marula, Ekorama, Panditaradhya, Vishwaradhya- who are held to have sprung from the five heads of Shiva, incarnate age after age, almost about 5500–6000 years ago.

The great gotrakaras established five great religious centers in different parts of India. Ekorama at Kedara in the Himalayas, Vishweswara at Banaras, Dharukaas at Ujjain, Panditaradya at Shrishail, Renukacharya at Balehonnur. -M.E. Tharstan : Castes and Tribes of South India p-264-265

And also mentioned by Dr. J. S. Pharkuhar in The Religious Quest of India as follows; The tradition is that the Virasaiva sect was founded by five ascetics Ekorma, Panditaradhya, Renukaas, Dharukaas and Viswaradhya.

According to popular view, and one backed by historical and literary evidence, the Veerashaiva sect was founded by the Panchacharyas or the Five great Prophets. This view however, is in the realm of mythology and is supported by historical and literary evidence those are available at Allahabad High Court and Jangamwadimath of Kashi.

The Panchacharyas are the five Gurus who incarnated directly form five faces of the Sivalinga and established the Virasaiva religion and Philosophy. Hence they are called as Lingodbhavas. Those five faces of linga called as namely Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurus and Isana. With the following names Revanaradhya, Marularadhya, Ekoramaradhya, Panditaradhya and Vishvaradhya. These five Acharyas are the Gotrapurusas (pioneers) of the Virasaiva religion. The five Gotrapurusas belongs to the five Gotras namely Veera, Nandi, Bhringi, Vrishabha and Skanda respectively. These Panchacharya ruled the realm of Virasaiva kingdom by establishing the five peethas in different places in India as follows :

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