Akka Mahadevi Jayanthi on Chaitra Pournami

Akka Mahadevi Jayanthi is the birth anniversary of Akka Mahadevi who is popularly known as Akka in Karnataka. She was a Kannada poet and renowned person of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement of 12^th century. In 2026, Akka Maha devi Jayanti date is April 1.

Akka is well-known for her Vachanas (a form of didactic poetry) in Kannada literature. She was given the honorific ‘Akka to Akka Maha devi by her contemporary poets and saints like Basavanna, Chenna Basavanna, Siddharama, and Allamprabhu.

Akka was born in Udutadi (Udugani) near Banavasi in Shimoga district of Karnataka on Chaitra Pournami, the Full Moon day in Chaitra month. Akka Mahadevi Jayanti is held in the native place of Akka with utmost fervor.

In Srisailam Bhramaramba devi temple, Akka Mahadevi Jayanthi is celebrated with special pujas, and rituals. Several groups of devotees come from Karnataka to participate in the events.

Akka Mahadevi was a great female saint, poetess, and mystic of the 12th-century Bhakti movement in South India. She is one of the most revered saints of the Lingayatism tradition and a prominent devotee of Shiva, whom she worshipped as Chennamallikarjuna.

Early Life

• Born around 1130 CE in Udutadi in present-day Karnataka.

• From childhood she showed deep devotion to Lord Shiva.

• She considered Chennamallikarjuna (a form of Shiva worshipped at Srisailam Temple) as her divine husband.

Renunciation and Spiritual Path

Akka Mahadevi rejected worldly life and social conventions.

• She renounced her marriage to a local king.

• Left her home to pursue spiritual realization.

• She wandered as a mystic saint, dedicating her life to devotion.

According to tradition, she covered her body only with her long hair, symbolizing complete detachment from worldly shame and ego.

Vachanas (Sacred Poems)

Akka Mahadevi composed many Vachanas (devotional poetic sayings) in Kannada expressing:

• Divine love for Shiva

• Spiritual freedom

• Criticism of social hypocrisy

• The path of devotion

She became one of the leading voices among the Sharana saints along with:

• Basavanna

• Allama Prabhu

Connection with Srisailam

Akka Mahadevi eventually reached Srisailam Temple, one of the sacred Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

There she worshipped Chennamallikarjuna and is believed to have attained spiritual union (samadhi).

A cave near Srisailam called Akka Mahadevi Caves is associated with her meditation.

Spiritual Message

Akka Mahadevi taught that:

• True devotion requires complete surrender to God.

• Inner purity is more important than social rules.

• Divine love is the highest form of spiritual realization.

 Famous Saying (Vachana Idea):
She often addressed Shiva as “Chenna Mallikarjuna, my only beloved.”