Who is Akka Nagamma?
Akkanagamma aka Nagalambike was the sister of Jagatjyoti Basaveshwara and only daughter to her parents Maadarasa and Maadalambike of Bagewadi in present day Bijapur district. She had great influence over Basavanna. Naagalambike was married to Shivadeva, their only son is none other than Chennabasavanna. Akka Nagamma was one of the leaders of Lingayath community. She was popularly called Akka ~ elder sister. Akka was a guiding light to Basaveshwara who served as a minister in King Bijjala's kingdom in Kalyana (present day Basva Kalyana in Bidar district).
What was Akka's contribution to the Lingayath community and society?
Akka was an active participant in Sharana meetings and spiritual debates & discussions at Anubhavamantapa and Mahamane. Akka was instrumental in protecting Vachana Sahitya and organizing Sharanas escape from Kalyana when Bijjala's army rises against the Sharanas. Akka along with hundreds of Sharanas leaves Kalyana, travels south towards Ulavi, then a part of Kadamba kingdom. Akka, Chennabasavanna, Gangambike and Dohara Kakkayya lead group is chased by Bijjala's soldiers. Sharanas and Bijjala;s soldiers engage in a battle at Kadrolli, soldiers lose and retreat. Gangambike attains Aikya in Malaprabha river near Itgi village. Dohara Kakkayya is injured in the battle, he proceeds towards Ulavi via Alnavar route. Akka and Chennabasavanna lead another group towards Dharwad where they camp for few days at Basappana Gudda, presently known as Ulavi Basaveshwara Gudda. After a break they continue their journey towards Ulavi where Chennabasavanna camps. Akka continues her journey southwards towards Banavasi.
Where is Akka's Aikyasthala?
Akka travels further south and attains Aikya at Yenne Holae near Tarikere in Chikkamagalur district. Legend says that Akka camped at a temple next a stream. There was no oil for the lamp but Akka used stream water instead of oil and lit a lamp. Hence the stream is known by the name Yenne Holae. Yenne means oil and Holae means stream or river.
Having visited Aikyasthalas of Basavanna at Kudala Sangama, Chennabasavanna at Ulavi, Gangambike memorial near Kittur, Neelambike memorial near Tangadgi and Dohara Kakkayya temple near Kakkeri I wanted to see Akka's Aikyasthala at Yeene Holae too. I heard about it from Dr. Manjunath. Also, Mom had told me Yenne Holae is on the outskirts of Tarikere but she had not seen the place herself. I had imagined a temple next to a stream..
March 17, 2014
I had camped at Badhravati at MPM Guest House Paper in Paper Town very close to our first home. The colony had hardly changed, I saw our house, the trees, our street.. it was like time had stood still there. Plan for the morning was to visit Tarikere to see Amruteshwara temple and Yenne Hole.
The state highway connecting Badhravati and Tarikere is in excellent condition, the drive was a breeze. At Tarikere, locating Yenne Hole required some effort because few people seem to know such a place existed. With a small mistake in inquiring I almost went to Yenne Hole Matha, a Brahman matha. Anyway we managed to locate the place following the directions of an elderly person. First I wasn't sure if this place was the right location.. a small temple is pitiable condition.
To add to the plight, the shrine's door was locked. I decided to check it out; first I tried the door - no us.
Then went to the side, a window, through it could see a Shivalinga on a pedestal. Good to see the inside was clean and tidy, fresh flowers said that pooja was performed in the morning. Hope pooja is done daily, not just Mondays.
This is a Shiva temple, fine but how do I know this place is indeed Akka's Aikyasthala? I looked down at the stone tablet, hoping to get some confirmation. Yes! The tablet does say this is MahaSharane Akkanagamma Shivayoga Samadhi Kshetra.
That's Ravi the cab driver. He too felt bad about this place. Very close to the temple was a Bilva Patri tree. Close to it were idols of Ganesha and Shanmugha, installed on pedestals in the open (see inset).
Akka's Aikyasthala is situated next to areca plantation and a mango orchard. Open space in the foreground is paddy field, barren during summer months.
On the way back, I took a shot of the board on the main road, pointing direction to Akka's Samadhi.
Having done with the two spots at Tarikere we drive back towards Badhravati, I was eager to visit my school - St. Charles Borromeo Convent.
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Akkanagamma aka Nagalambike was the sister of Jagatjyoti Basaveshwara and only daughter to her parents Maadarasa and Maadalambike of Bagewadi in present day Bijapur district. She had great influence over Basavanna. Naagalambike was married to Shivadeva, their only son is none other than Chennabasavanna. Akka Nagamma was one of the leaders of Lingayath community. She was popularly called Akka ~ elder sister. Akka was a guiding light to Basaveshwara who served as a minister in King Bijjala's kingdom in Kalyana (present day Basva Kalyana in Bidar district).
What was Akka's contribution to the Lingayath community and society?
Akka was an active participant in Sharana meetings and spiritual debates & discussions at Anubhavamantapa and Mahamane. Akka was instrumental in protecting Vachana Sahitya and organizing Sharanas escape from Kalyana when Bijjala's army rises against the Sharanas. Akka along with hundreds of Sharanas leaves Kalyana, travels south towards Ulavi, then a part of Kadamba kingdom. Akka, Chennabasavanna, Gangambike and Dohara Kakkayya lead group is chased by Bijjala's soldiers. Sharanas and Bijjala;s soldiers engage in a battle at Kadrolli, soldiers lose and retreat. Gangambike attains Aikya in Malaprabha river near Itgi village. Dohara Kakkayya is injured in the battle, he proceeds towards Ulavi via Alnavar route. Akka and Chennabasavanna lead another group towards Dharwad where they camp for few days at Basappana Gudda, presently known as Ulavi Basaveshwara Gudda. After a break they continue their journey towards Ulavi where Chennabasavanna camps. Akka continues her journey southwards towards Banavasi.
Where is Akka's Aikyasthala?
Akka travels further south and attains Aikya at Yenne Holae near Tarikere in Chikkamagalur district. Legend says that Akka camped at a temple next a stream. There was no oil for the lamp but Akka used stream water instead of oil and lit a lamp. Hence the stream is known by the name Yenne Holae. Yenne means oil and Holae means stream or river.
Having visited Aikyasthalas of Basavanna at Kudala Sangama, Chennabasavanna at Ulavi, Gangambike memorial near Kittur, Neelambike memorial near Tangadgi and Dohara Kakkayya temple near Kakkeri I wanted to see Akka's Aikyasthala at Yeene Holae too. I heard about it from Dr. Manjunath. Also, Mom had told me Yenne Holae is on the outskirts of Tarikere but she had not seen the place herself. I had imagined a temple next to a stream..
March 17, 2014
I had camped at Badhravati at MPM Guest House Paper in Paper Town very close to our first home. The colony had hardly changed, I saw our house, the trees, our street.. it was like time had stood still there. Plan for the morning was to visit Tarikere to see Amruteshwara temple and Yenne Hole.
The state highway connecting Badhravati and Tarikere is in excellent condition, the drive was a breeze. At Tarikere, locating Yenne Hole required some effort because few people seem to know such a place existed. With a small mistake in inquiring I almost went to Yenne Hole Matha, a Brahman matha. Anyway we managed to locate the place following the directions of an elderly person. First I wasn't sure if this place was the right location.. a small temple is pitiable condition.
.........
Good post. But the place of such importance is in a pathetic state.
ReplyDeleteVery informative article. Thank you very much. Sad to see such a great place in pathetic condition. Just to add little more information - Akkanagamma and Nuliya Chandayya (one of the main followers of Basavanna) moved to South Karnataka after Kalyana Kranthi. Akka Nagamma attained Aikya near Ennehole, Tarikere. According to my research, Nuliya Chandaiah also attained aikya and his Samadhi is present somewhere near Tarikere. I am not sure where it is. I think there is a Nuliya Chandaiah Matt in Tarikere.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rajesh and Manjunath.
ReplyDeleteಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ವರದಿ ಸರ್
ReplyDeleteಧನ್ಯವದ ಭೀಮನಾಗೌಡರೆ
ReplyDeleteಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನಿಮಗೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು. ಈ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು.
ReplyDeleteಉತ್ತಮ ಮಾಹಿತಿ. ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಕಾಲ, ಈ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಸುಧಾರಿಸಿರಬಹುದೆಂದು ಆಶಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
ReplyDeleteಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಸಂಜಯವರೇ. ಈ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಜೀರ್ಣೋದ್ದಾರ ಆಗಿದೆಯೆಂದು ಸುದ್ದಿ ಕೇಳಿದ್ದೆ.
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