Allama Mahaprabhu: The Gentle Yogi

Allama Mahaprabhu was a very beautiful sage and a devotee of Shiva. He inspired and created a whole genre of saints called Veerashaivas. The word “Veerashaiva” literally means a very brave or valiant Shiva bhakta. Many devotees such as Akka Mahadevi were in touch with Allama and he was a spiritual guide to a remarkable fellowship of mystics during his time. A subtle and profound being, Allama Mahaprabhu authored thousands of couplets of exceptional depth and profound mystical insight.

Allama Mahaprabhu’s Photo from Samvada.org

There is a very beautiful story in the yogic lore of Karnataka. This was a great yogi named Siddhalinga who lived in the region of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the Deccan Plateau of South India. He walked this region with such great authority, going everywhere and proving to everyone that he was the greatest yogi. He was on the path of Kayakalpa. Kaya means “the body,” and Kalpa means “to get your body into a different dimension altogether”. These were the kind of yogis with mastery over the fundamental elements. With this kind of sadhana, they made their body so hard and stable. These are the kind of people who live for 300–400 years because they have stabilized their bodies with their mastery over the five elements in such a way that they continue to live beyond the normal span of human life. At the time of this story, they say Siddhalinga was already over 280 years old and he had made his body as hard as a diamond. In those days, all the weapons were made from either steel, brass, copper, or similar metals. So, no one could cut through his body with any available weapon. That was his pride. Wherever he went, he was always challenging people to prove that he was the greatest yogi.

Siddhalinga heard about Allama, another great yogi, who did not live like a yogi. Allama, who was generally known as Allama Mahaprabhu, was a very beautiful sage and a devotee of Shiva. He was one yogi who was greatly respected in South India and still is. Many devotees such as Akka Mahadevi were in touch with Allama. Allama’s message of unconditional devotion and various other types of sadhana that he was giving to people were spreading in a big way during that time.

Allama was actually a king. He had his temporal duties so he dressed like a king and lived like one but he was a yogi. Siddhalinga dressed like a yogi and lived like a yogi. He had “yogi” painted all over his face. He did not like this man who dressed well, ate well and lived in a palace, but called himself a yogi. So he went to Allama and challenged him, “You call yourself a yogi? You call yourself a devotee of Shiva? Show me something. What have you got?”

Allama Mahaprabhu said, “You are a great yogi. It is best that you show what you can do.”

Siddhalinga pulled out a diamond-tipped sword, gave it to Allama and said, “Take this sword and hit me on my head with all your strength. Nothing will happen to me.”

Allama was amused. He took the sword, and with both his hands and all his might, smashed it on Siddhalinga’s head. The sword just bounced off because his body was diamond-solid. Siddhalinga just stood there like a rock. He laughed, “See. You cannot do anything to me.” Then Siddhalinga said, “Now that you used the sword against me, I can also use it against you.”

Allama said okay. Siddhalinga took the sword and slashed Allama with it. The sword went right through him like he was thin air. It just passed through him. Siddhalinga swished this way and that way but the sword went through Allama again and again without even touching him. Then Siddhalinga bowed down and said, “I know the yoga of strength but I don’t know the yoga of gentleness”. He even said “Yes, I have made myself like a rock, but you have become nothing. At least you can touch me with the sword. I cannot even touch you with the sword.” and he became Allama’s disciple.

Allama inspired and created a whole genre of saints called Veerashaivas. Veerashaivas are warrior devotees. They are Shiva bhaktas but they bear arms. Allama was a very soft and gentle being. He had written thousands of couplets of such enormous depth and dimension. In many ways, I can clearly say he was one of a kind in the whole history of humanity. He was an extraordinary being.

CommentaryByAO- Allama Mahaprabhu’s life inspires us to intensify our devotion and surrender to the lord. He provides us with an example that we can live in the world and be spiritual. We can consume the materialistic world and still be totally detached. He portrays the true example of vairagya and what devotion to Shiva can do to us. The Dissolution is sacred and supreme. He also promoted arms as a way to protect dharma though being such a gentle and subtle yogi. This demonstrates that Shaiva Dharma/Sanatan Dharma should be protected at all costs.

Reference Book: In is the only way out by isha.

Hope this flicks a switch in you and gives birth to realisation. I offer my obeisance to the divine in you. Har Har Mahadev, Alakh Niranjan, Adesh.

Ashutosh Om.