Bhaktamal | Akka Mahadevi
Real Name - Mahadevi
Other Names - Akka
Guru - Allama Prabhu
Aradhya - Bhagwan Shiv
Born - 1130
Place of Birth - Udutadi, Shivamogga, Karnataka
Died - 1160, Srisailam
Marital Status - Unmarried
Father - Nirmal Shetti
Mother - Sumati Shetty
Language - Kannad
Famous - Devotional Poet Saint
Akka Mahadevi, also known simply as Akka in the Karnataka region, was a prominent 12th-century poet-saint of Karnataka, India. She is known as one of the leading figures of the Vachana movement, which emphasized a personal relationship with God and rejected ritualistic practices in favor of direct experiences of spirituality.
She composed several vachanas (poetic verses) that express his views on spirituality, devotion and the search for truth. Her words are characterized by their emotional depth and philosophical insight. She is considered by modern scholars to be a major figure in the field of women's liberation.
Akka Mahadevi, a household name in Karnataka, wrote that she was a woman in name only and that her mind, body and soul belonged to Shiva. Like many other Bhakti movement poets, Akka Mahadevi's works can be traced through her Ankita, or signature name by which she addressed her icon of devotion. In the case of Akka Mahadevi, she uses the name Chennamallikarjuna to refer to Lord Shiva.
She is revered in the Lingayat community and is considered one of the earliest female saints in Indian history. His contributions to Kannada literature and spirituality are still studied and respected today. Akka Mahadevi's life and work exemplify the power of personal spiritual experience and the role of women in the religious and cultural landscape of India.