AKKA MAHADEVI KANNADA SAGE Andal of Kannada
Mahadevi or Akka Mahadevi, sometimes called simply Akka, was born in
Udutadi in the Karnataka region of India. At age 10, she was initiated as a
devotee of Shiva, the pale-skinned god of destruction and rebirth, lord of
yogis and ascetics. She worshiped Shiva in the form of Chennamallikarjuna,
which means literally "Mallika's beautiful Arjuna." It is said that
Mahadevi was married by arrangement to Kausika, a local king. There were
immediate tensions, however, as Kausika was a Jain, a group that tended to
be wealthy and was, as a result, much resented by the rest of the
population. Much of Akka's poetry explores the themes of rejecting mortal
love in favor of the everlasting, "illicit" love of God, and this seems to
be the path she chose as well. She ran away from her life of luxury to live
as a wandering poet-saint, traveling throughout the region and singing
praises to her Lord Shiva. A true ascetic, Mahadevi is said to have refused
to even wear clothing -- a common practice among male ascetics, but
shocking for a woman. In Kalyana, she met the famous Shaivite saints Basava
and Allama Prabhu. Akka spent the last of her days in the Srisailam area.
Tradition says she left the world in her twenties, entering mahasamadhi
(final divine union) with a flash of light. Her poems:
I Breath for fragrance by Akka Mahadevi
English version by A. K. Ramanujan Original Language Kannada
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.
Ii He bartered my heart
looted my flesh,
claimed as tribute
my pleasure,
took over
all of me.
I'm the woman of love
for my lord, white as jasmine.
III It was like a stream
running into the dry bed
of a lake,
like rain
pouring on plants
parched to sticks.
It was like this 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.
IV 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.
*V People, male and female,* by Akka Mahadevi English version by A. K.
Ramanujan
Original Language Kannada
People,
male and female,
blush when a cloth covering their shame
comes loose
When the lord of lives
lives drowned without a face
in the world, how can you be modest?
When all the world is the eye of the lord,
onlooking everywhere, what can you
cover and conceal?
VI Sunlight made visible
the whole length of sky,
movement of wind,
leaf, flower, all six colours
on tree, bush and creeper:
all this
is the day's worship.
The light of moon, star and fire,
lightnings and all things
that go by the name of light
are the night's worship.
Night and day
in your worship
I forget myself
O lord white as jasmine.
VII After my body became [Pure advaitham]
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!
VIII Like
treasure hidden in the ground
taste in the fruit
gold in the rock
oil in the seed
the Absolute hidden away
in the heart
no on can know
the ways of our lord
white as jasmine.
IX When I didn't know myself
where were you?
Like the colour in the gold,
you were in me.
I saw in you,
lord white as jasmine,
the paradox of your being
in me
without showing a limb.
X You can confiscate
money in hand;
can you confiscate
the body's glory?
Or peel away every strip
you wear,
but can you peel
the Nothing, the Nakedness
that covers and veils?
To the shameless girl
wearing the White Jasmine Lord's
light of morning,
you fool,
where's the need for cover and jewel? KR IRS 111125
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