Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi (ಅಕ್ಕ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ) was a prominent figure and Kannada poet of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement of the 12th century Karnataka. Her Vachanas, a form of didactic poetry are considered her greatest contribution to Kannada Bhakti literature In all she wrote about 430 Vachanas which is relatively fewer than that compared to other saints of her time. Yet the term 'Akka' (elder Sister) which is an honorific given to her by great Veerashaiva saints like Basavanna, Chenna Basavanna, Kinnari Bommayya, Siddharama, Allamaprabhu and Dasimayya speaks volumes of her contribution to Kannada literature and the history of Karnataka. She is said to have accepted the god Shiva ('Chenna Mallikarjuna') as her mystical husband (similar to how centuries later Meera, a 16th century saint, considered herself married to Krishna).

Feet Of the Master
It was like a stream
running into the dry bed
of a lake,
like rain
pouring on plants
parched to sticks.

It was like the world’s pleasure,
And the way to the other,
Both walking towards me.

Seeing the feet of the master
O Lord white as jasmine,
I was made worthwhile.

Hidden Trasures

Like treasure hidden by the earth,
Like the taste hidden by the fruit,
Like gold hidden by the stone,
Like oil hidden by the sesame seed,
Like fire hidden by the word,
Channamallikarjuna (Shiva), jasmine-tender,
Hides as the being behind becoming;
No one knows him.

When I did not know myself
Where were you, tell me?
Like the color in gold,
You were in me.
Though you were in me
I saw you as different.
O Channakallikarjuna, jasmine-tender.


Who needs Flowers?

Breath for fragrance,
who needs flowers?

With peace, patience, forgiving and self-command,
who needs the Ultimate Posture?

The whole world become oneself
who needs solitude,

O lord white as jasmine.

Silkworm weaving..

Like a silkworm weaving
her house with love
from her marrow,

and dying
...in her body's threads
winding tight, round
and round,

I burn
desiring what the heart desires.

Cut through, O lord,
my heart's greed,
and show me
your way out,

O lord white as jasmine.

Whoom to serve?

After my body became
Thyself,
whom could I serve?
After my mind became
Thyself,
whom could I invoke?
After my consciousness was lost in Thee,
Whom could I know?
Being Thyself in Thee,
O Cenna Mallikarjuna Lord,
Through Thee have I forgotten Thee.


Monkeyman’s stick

Monkey on monkeyman's stick
puppet at the end of a string

I've played as you've played
I've spoken as you've told me
I've been as you let me be

O engineer of the world
lord white as jasmine

I've run
till you cried halt.


I have Wisdom

Saying, "I have got wisdom", can the guru-linga-jangama be left off ?
Saying, "Got flawless, doubtless, wholesome wisdom"
can one touch somebody else's wealth or wife ?
Saying, "Got the comprehensive wisdom that where life is there is shiva",
can one live with dog, pig, chicken, cat ?
In realization having known the true nature of the self,
other than nurturing good wisdom, good action, good justice,
good path, if one acts in whatever way thoughts go, saying "I've got wisdom",
would Lord chennamallikArjuna leave without making them born as dogs !


Surface Vultures.

Would a circling surface vulture
know such depths of sky

as the moon would know?
would a weed on the riverbank
know such depths of water
as the lotus would know?
would a fly darting nearby
know the smell of flowers
as the bee would know?
O Lord white as jasmine
only you would know
the way of your devotees:
how would these
these
mosquitos
on the buffalo’s hides?


Akka Mahadevi.