Mahayogini Akkamahadevi

In the twelfth century in Karnataka, there lived a saintlyyogini named Akkamahadevi. I had heard her name for manyyears, but did not possess detailed knowledge. Last year, the'Akkan Balag' organisation from Solapur invited me to deliver alecture on the occasion of Akkamahadevi's birth anniversary.There, I gleaned some information about her. It was then Irealised that this saintly yogini was distinct from other womensaints. I resolved then and there to write a novel in Marathi aboutthis great yogini, and so began gathering literary referencesconcerning her.Akkamahadevi was born in the twelfth century atUdugani (Shivamogga district). From a young age, Mahadevi, whowas fond of devotion to Shiva, was exceedingly beautiful inappearance. Her hair flowed down to her knees. She was adevotee of Channamallikarjuna. The King of Udugani wasenchanted by her beauty. He decided to marry Mahadevi. ButMahadevi did not consent. He then seized Mahadevi's mother andfather. Finally, she tells the king that she will marry him undercertain conditions for her parents' release. The king keeps her inthe palace, but he violates the conditions set by Akkamahadevi.Once, when the king attempts to lay a hand upon her garment,Mahadevi flings her robes at his face. Stripped of her clothing, shesteps outside. Walking alone, she reaches Kalyana. This distancewas nearly seven hundred kilometres and the path wasextremely arduous. In Kalyana, she stayed in the company of ShriAllamaprabhu and Shri Basavanna, practising yogic discipline. Itwas there she was bestowed the title 'Akka'. After a considerableperiod of spiritual practice there, she proceeded to Shrishaila, toMallikarjuna. There, near the Patalaganga, in a banana grove, sheperformed austerities and yogic discipline. In that banana grovewhere even today one fears to stay during the day, she performedher spiritual practice eight or nine hundred years ago andattained samadhi there. This matter is truly extraordinary.