SIDDHARAMESHWAR: AN INFLUENTIAL SHIVASHARANA IN THE VEERASHAIVA MOVEMENT

Abstract

South India had significant social and religious transformations in the 12th century. Only the Veerashaiva sect, led by Saint Basavesvara, was responsible for its growth. Together with Allama Prabhu and other Shivsharanas, Basavesvara helped the reformist movement gain traction in South Maharashtra, which was united by shared political affiliations as well as proximity in geography and culture. Many Shiva devotees from Maharashtra, such as Siddharameshwar of Sonnalige (modern-day Sholapur in Maharashtra), contributed significantly to the spread of the Veerashaiva egalitarian movement.