Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi (c. 1130–1160) was an early poet of Kannada literature^[1] and a prominent member of the Lingayatism founded in the 12th century.^[2] Her 430 vachanas (a form of spontaneous mystical poems), and the two short writings called Mantrogopya and the Yogangatrividh are considered her known contributions to Kannada literature.^[3] The term Akka ("elder sister" or "mother") was an honorific given to her by saints such as Basavanna, Siddharama, and Allamaprabhu as an indication of her high place in the spiritual discussions held at the "Anubhava Mantapa".^[4] She is regarded to be a major female figure in Kannada literature and in the history of Karnataka. She considered the god Shiva ('Chenna Mallikarjuna') as her husband (traditionally understood as the 'madhura bhava' or 'madhurya' form of devotion).^{[citation needed]}