Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi (Kannada: ಅಕ್ಕ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ, c. 1130–1160) was one of the early poets of Kannada literature^[1] and a prominent person in the Lingayat Shaiva sect in the 12th century.^[2] Her 430 Vachana poems (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] She composed fewer poems than other saints of the movement. The term Akka ("elder Sister" or "mother") is an honorific given to her by saints such as Basavanna, Siddharama and Allamaprabhu and an indication of her high place in the spiritual discussions held at the "Anubhava Mantapa".^[4] She is seen as an inspirational woman 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]}