YOGI KULACHAKRAVARTI SHIVAYOGI SHRI SIDDHARAMESHWAR
Shri. Siddharameshwara was a thinker, philosopher, social reformer and humanist who spearheaded social, philosophical and religious movements in Karnataka and Maharashtra during the twelfth century. The special feature of Solapur is Saint Shri. Siddharameshwara. He was a Yogi who attended divinity through his service to society. He believed in 'Duty is Deity'. He erected 68 consecrated Shivalingas and Ashtavinayaka in punchkroshi of Solapur. He constructed the lake with the help of devotees to solve the drinking water problem in twelfth century. He worked hard to build a vibrant, casteless, creedless society full of human values.
He was a great humanistic and mystic Kannada poet who claimed to be written 68000 Vachanas in one of his following Vachanas:-
Sixty-eight thousands
I’ve sung and sung,
And lo! My heart is weary, Sir,
But there’s only one to sing,
One to contemplate:
To shed the passions and live passionless
In Kapila Siddha Mallikarjuna!
The above Vachana declares that he composed 68000 Vachanas. There has been a huge loss of Vachanas over the time. At present only about 1378 Vachanas are available.
"Sonnalagi" means today's Solapur, the birthplace and birthplace of Shivyogi Shri Siddharameshwar. Shri Siddharameshwar is the village deity of Solapur. It is the place of worship and worship of numerous devotees in Maharashtra-Karnataka-Andhra. The meaning of "Nadenudiyalli Madiyagi Badukuvude Swarg" - 'living with purity in moral thinking is heaven' is the philosophy of Shri Siddharameshwar's life work story begins from Sonnalgi, that is, from Solapur itself! Patil Muddagouda of Sonnalgi and his wife Suggaladevi were both virtuous and devoted to Shiva. What they lacked was disaster! Although both of them reached old age, they did not suffer any calamity. Both had faith in God, had a firm belief that divine miracles would happen and that they would have a son.
One day Jagadguru Shri Revanacharya came to Muddagouda's house with his disciple and blessed Suggaladevi , "Mother, your punai thor is going to be born in your womb, a Yogi man in the form of great Shiva. This Sonnalagi will be known as "Abhinava Shrishail" because of his work. Name the born child Siddharam". Shrirevanacharya bid him farewell. Suggaladevi was an old woman of sixty years, but by divine blessing she gave birth to a son and named him Siddharam. Balayogi Siddrama loved the work of tending cows and cattle. He used to enjoy the natural beauty of the forest.
One day Siddrama found a "Divine Shivalinga" near a stream of water in Amrai in the field. From that day Siddrama regularly worshiped the Divya Shivalinga with devotion. Seeing the devotion of Bal Siddrama, Sreesail Mallaya also developed a desire to meet his devotee. As usual Siddrama was engrossed in Linga Puja, an aged and very bright Jangammurti came before him. Siddrama bowed down to him.
Then that Jangma said 'My name is Malayya and I come from Shrishail'. Siddrama made this bright Jangamurthy eat scraps in the field. After eating hurda, Mallya demanded curd rice from him but when Siddrama returned with curd rice, Mallya had left. Siddrama reached Shrishail with the devotees carrying the palanquin. After going there, the devotees showed Siddrama the Jyotirlinga in the temple and said that this is your 'Malaya'.
Siddrama wanted to see Mallikarjuna's Saguna form. Siddrama started looking for Mallaya in the forest on Shrisailgiri mountain. After being assured that the Mallyas were not to be found, this Balamana finally decided to sacrifice his body. Mallaiya, Mallaiya jumped into the deep valley called 'Kamrikolla'. Just then Shri Mallikarjuna appeared and took hold of baby Siddrama's hand and lifted him separately and held him close to his heart. Seeing the immense glory of 'guru-bheti', the gods and goddesses showered flowers on both of them from the sky. Siddharam stayed on Shrishail mountain for a few days and completed his yoga practice. Your avatar is for public welfare. So after receiving Shri Mallikarjuna's order that you should now go to Sonnalgi, Siddharam returned to Sonnalgi.
After Shrisiddharama returned to Sonnalgi, he built a magnificent temple of his deity Shrimallikarjuna. 68 Ishtalingas and Ashtavinayakas were established for the protection of Sonnalagi. Food umbrellas were opened for orphans and afflicted people. The practice of communal marriage for the poor and the poor spread in the society.
The message of equality was created by taking all religions together and creating a lake. As much as he was a Yogi, Siddrama was a sensitive poet and a great promiser. He himself has mentioned in one verse that he composed 68 thousand verses. But today only about two thousand of his verses are available. Due to Siddrama's religious, social and spiritual work, he is now popularly known as Shivyogi Shri Siddharameshwar. Due to Karmayoga Siddhas of Shrisiddharameshwar this Sonnalgi was transformed into Abhinav Shrishaila.
After completing his desired work in Bhuloka, Shri Siddharameshwar decided to take Sanjeevan Samadhi. One auspicious day, after blessing all his assembled devotees, Shrisiddharameshwar sat in Samadhi and became one with his adoring deity Shri Mallikarjuna, Mahajyoti merged with that Paramjyoti.
Today, thousands of devotees visit the temple every day to have the darshan of Shri Siddharameshwar. Taking darshan of his sanjeevan samadhi, one sits in front of the samadhi and recites the name. While engrossed in Namasmaran, the devotees get the feeling of receiving the blessings of Shri Siddharameshwar. Even today there is a belief among all the devotees that the existence of Shri Siddharameshwar in the form of nirguna, formless form is at the place of Sanjeevan Samadhi.