Veerashaiva

Veerashaivism is a subtradition within Shaivism. According to tradition, it was transmitted by five Panchacharayas, Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishweswara, and first taught by Renukacharya to Agastya, a Vedic seer. However no mainstream texts exist of Agastya learning such teachings and that belief is limited to orthodox Veerashaivas.

Pancharayas

According to tradition, 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 Panchacharyas established five peethas, which play an important role in Veerashaiva:

• Veerasimhasana of Rambhapuri in Balehonnuru (Karnataka)
• Saddharma Shimhasana of Ujjaini (Karnataka)
• Vairagya Shimhasana of Kedar (Uttarakhand)
• Surya Shimhasana of Shrishaila (Andhra Pradesh) and
• Jnana Shimhasana of Kashi (Uttar Pradesh)

Peethas

Veerashaivism is continued to this day and is preserved and transmitted by five peethas (Rambhapuri, Ujjaini, Kedar, Shreeshail, Kashi), who play an essential role in the Veerashaiva tradition.

Philosophy

Its philosophy of Veerashaivism is explained in Siddhanta Shikhamani. While the Veerashaiva-tradition incorporates Vedic elements, the origin of panchacharyas has been explained in Sivagamas, especially in Svayambhuva Agama, Suprabhedagama and Viragama. The earlier portions of Agama literature are the fundamental source of Saiva religion, while the latter portions are of special importance to Veerashaivism.