Sky-clad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Akka Mahadevi

by Mukunda Rao

The Extraordinary Life and Times of Akka Mahadevi Akka Mahadevi is one of the foremost feminist and spiritual icons of Indian history. Her powerful vachanas, written in twelfth-century Karnataka, trace a radical journey. Unlike other women bhaktas, Mahadevi worked within the female body, not around it – eventually walking naked, 'breast to breast with the cosmos', and moving beyond all binaries, including male–female, devotee–God. Steered by her own inner experiences, Mahadevi cut loose from religious initiations. Her bhakti was the path, her inner voice the guru. Sky-clad is a radical new reading of Akka Mahadevi's story, one where the body is seen not as the prison of the mind or soul, but as the ground of intelligence, creativity and enlightenment.

Genres: History, India

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2018

Reviews

[Utkrisht Fella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sky-clad by Mukunda Rao is more than a biography; it is a tribute to the raw power of the Bhakti movement. Rao meticulously tracks saint Akka Mahadevi’s transformation from a young girl in Udutadi to a wandering mystic who eventually shed her clothes, literally and metaphorically to find her "Divine Lover."

The book shines when discussing her intense relationship with Lord Mallikarjuna (Shiva), whom she addressed as Chennamallikarjuna. Rao captures the essence of her vachanas, showing how her poetry wasn't just literature but a direct conversation with the divine.

What Mukunda Rao captures so brilliantly is how Akka Mahadevi became the ultimate icon of female empowerment by systematically dismantling the pillars of 12th-century society. Her defiance was not just spiritual; it was a total rebellion against the institutions of family, religion and the state. By walking away from her marriage to King Kaushika, she wasn't just leaving a husband, she was rejecting the highest political authority of her time and asserting that her body and soul were not property to be owned.

Her decision to live naked, covered only by her hair was the most radical act of all. It was a direct confrontation with the male gaze and the social shame used to control women. She proved that a woman’s worth was not tied to her modesty or her domestic role. Even when she reached the Anubhava Mantapa, the center of the Sharana movement, she had to defend her choice of nudity and her spiritual state against the greatest male philosophers of her era like Allama Prabhu. She faced immense trouble and social stigma, yet she stood her ground with intellectual and spiritual ferocity. It is a hauntingly beautiful look at a revered woman saint who traded worldly security for a spiritual fire that never went out, proving that true liberation requires the courage to stand completely alone against the world.

[Nayaz Riyazulla · Rating 3 out of 5]

ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿಯ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ ಬಹು ಮುಖ್ಯದ್ದು. 12ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಇತಿಹಾಸದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಬರುವ ಅಕ್ಕ, ಮೊದಲ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕವಯತ್ರಿಯಾಗಿ ಮೆರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಕೆಯ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಯುವಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಜನರು ನಂಬಿರುವುದು ಹರಿಹರನ ರಗಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಚಾಮರಸನ ಕೃತಿ, ತದನಂತರ ಬಂದ ಶೂನ್ಯಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಕೃತಿಗಳು ಕೂಡ ಈಕೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲುತ್ತವೆ, ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಅಕ್ಕನ ವಚನಗಳೇ ಆಕೆಯ ಐತಿಹ್ಯವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಿಕೊಡುತ್ತವೆ.

ಅಕ್ಕನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಓದಿದರೂ ತೃಪ್ತಿ ಸಿಗದು, ಬಸವಣ್ಣ ಅಲ್ಲಮಪ್ರಭುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸರಿಸಮಾನವಾಗಿ ರಾರಾಜಿಸಿದ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಶರಣೆ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ. ಈಕೆ ಬಸವಣ್ಣ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರರಂತೆ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಾದ ಸಮಾಜ ಸುಧಾರಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾನತೆಗೆ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ದುಡಿದವಳಲ್ಲ, ಈಕೆ ತನ್ನ ಚೆನ್ನಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸುವದರಲ್ಲೇ ಜೀವನ ಕಳೆದ ಶರಣೆ, ಹಾಗಾಗಿಯೇ ಈಕೆಯ ವಚನಗಳು ಭಾವಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಅಥವಾ ಅಂತರ್ಮುಖಿವೆನಿಸುವಂತೆ ಇವೆಯೇ ಹೊರತು ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಕಾರಿಗಳಾಗಿಲ್ಲ, ಈಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಈಕೆಯ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪೋಷಣೆಗೆ ಮನ್ನಣೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಅನುಭವ ಮಂಟಪದ ಶರಣರ ವಿಶಾಲ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಕೋಟಿ ನಮನಗಳು, ಆಗಿನ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಶೋಷಿತ ವರ್ಗವಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಮೊದಲ ಕವಯತ್ರಿಯಾಗಿ ಗೆಲ್ಲಿಸಿತ್ತು.

ಅಕ್ಕ, ಕಾರಿಕಾಲಮ್ಮೆ ಮತ್ತು ಆಂಡಾಳ್ ರಂತೆ ತನ್ನನ್ನು ತಾನೇ ಭಗವಂತನಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಮಹಾಭಕ್ತೆ. ಈಕೆಯ ಭಕ್ತಿ ಕೊಂಚ ಭಿನ್ನ, ಲೌಕಿಕ ಜೀವನದ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಅಲೌಕಿಕ ಸುಖವನ್ನು ಕಂಡವಳು, ಅನುಭವದ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಅನುಭಾವದ ರುಚಿಯನ್ನು ಉಂಡವಳು. ಕನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಲಿಪಲ್ಲ ಗೊರವನ ಮೂಲಕ ಚೆನ್ನಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನನನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದವಳು, ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಾವಿಲ್ಲದ, ಕೇಡಿಲ್ಲದ, ರೂಹಿಲ್ಲದ ಚೆಲುವಂಗೆ ಒಲಿದವಳು
ಆಕೆಯ ಅನುಭಾವದ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಹೀಗಿದೆ
"ಮರ ಮರ ಮಥನಿಸಿ ಕಿಚ್ಚು ಹುಟ್ಟಿ
ಸುತ್ತಣ ತರುಮರಾದಿಗಳ ಸುಡಲಾಯಿತು;
ಆತ್ಮವಾತ್ಮ ಮಥನಿಸಿ ಅನುಭಾವ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ
ತನು ತುನು ಗುಣಾದಿಗಳ ಸುಡಲಾಯಿತು".

ಇಂತಹ ದಿವ್ಯಾತ್ಮವಾದ ಅಕ್ಕಳ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುವ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಪರ್ವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನಬಹುದಾದ ಕೃತಿ. ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಓದಲು ಭಾರದ ಓದುಗರು ಈ ಕೃತಿಯಿಂದ ಅಕ್ಕಳ ಜೀವನದ ಪರಿಚಯ ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಓದಲು ಬರುವ ಓದುಗರು ಇದನ್ನು ಓದದೇ, ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳನ್ನು ಪಟ್ಟಿಯಾನುಸಾರವಾಗಿ ಓದಬಹುದು.
1. ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿ - ರುದ್ರಮುರ್ತಿ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಗಳು
2. ಕದಳಿಯ ಕರ್ಪೂರ - ಎಚ್ ತಿಪ್ಪೆರುದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ
3. ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿ - ವಿಜಯಶ್ರೀ ಸಬರದ
4. ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿ - ಅಕ್ಕಳ ಜೀವನ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರ ಲೇಖನಗಳು (ಅಕ್ಕರ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ತುಂಬಾ ಆಳವಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುವ ಕೃತಿ) - ಸಂ: ವಿಜಯಶ್ರೀ ಸಬರದ.

ಅಕ್ಕಮಹಾದೇವಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಜಿ ಎಸ್ ಶಿವರುದ್ರಪ್ಪನವರು ಹೇಳಿರುವ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಹೀಗಿದೆ
"ತಾತ್ವಿಕವಾಗಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ, ಜೀವ ಮತ್ತು ದೇವರ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸನಾತನವಾದದ್ದು. ಅಕ್ಕ ಈ ತಾತ್ವಿಕ ನೆಲೆಯ ಜೀವಂತ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನದಂತೆ ಇದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಈ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಮಹಾದೇವಿ ಹರನ ಸನಾತನ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯ ಪ್ರತೀಕವಾಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ."

[Gautam Sasidharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book after reading Mr H S Sivaprakash’s article in The Hindu on the book and I am not disappointed.

Sky-clad (Digambara) is not the story of Akka Mahadevi. It is a narrative with the right amount of story telling about the Bhakthi movement in Karnataka. Skyclad traces the path of Akka Mahadevi, from Uduthadi through Kalyana to Kadali, finally ending at Srisailam. Through this narrative, the author explores some important personalities like Basavanna, Allama Prabhu and the entire sect of Virashaivas.

The book starts with a quick primer on what Bhakthi is and where it stands in the yogic pantheon. This is followed by the story of Mahadevi and how she transforms into Akka Mahadevi and the icon she is. The initial chapter takes the reader through her early life and the circumstances which make her shun her clothes. The story of Akka Mahadevi cannot be complete without the mention of Virashaivas and hence the author dedicates a complete chapter for them. The author explains the circumstances which led to rising of this sect and how they demarcated themselves from the prevailing beliefs. Here, the author brings significance into the lives of Basavanna, Allama Prabhu and many other lesser known Virashaivas who wielded a powerful influence in the Kannada society. Then the author joins these two streams at the Anubhava Mantapa at Kalyana. Thereafter, it is brief account of the final stages of her life at Srisailam and exploratory essays of the many dimensions of Akka’s bhakthi.

It is not the story of Akka Mahadevi which makes this book a fascinating read. But it is the loads of information which are built on the sides of the central theme which makes it stand out. The author makes an important point when he says

“The difficulty with the study of Akka Mahadevi’s life for that matter of even of her contemporaries… is the lack of authentic sources.”

I have always read the accounts of historical figures with a pinch of salt because, after all, most times in history the author writes either his perspective or what the powerful want to be written.
It is really tough to summarise the objectives of the book. But I felt that the book tries to focus the light on the life of Akka Mahadevi, her rebel nature, her nudity. As the author says

“Akka Mahadevi’s journey, like that of any other bhakta’s, does start with bhava (emotions) and eventually culminates in anubhava (awareness of oneness, experience)”

The author has given a perspective of Akka Mahadevi’s life with the life of other contemporaries, which explains her magnitude as a bhakta and a rebel. It is the scenes at Kalyana, where her devotion is tested both orally and physically, which makes the narration compelling.

That said, the book becomes interesting with the insights into the prevailing religious conditions, the tides and currents brought in by the rising of the new sect, the perspective in comparison with the today’s situations, and the treatment of body and gender in the light of Akka Mahadevi’s clear
stand on both.

“For Akka, the body was not a liability, or an impediment to bhakti, but gender was, social conditioning was, as these were to Avvaiyar and Punitavati”

Another aspect, which delights the reader, is the author’s approach to the subject through vachanas which are replete throughout the book.

“Vachana simply means ‘what is said’… No metrical or prosodic patterns were used in the vachanas, but they combined the lucidity of prose with the rhythm of poetry.”

This book is highly recommended for everybody, to know about a personality who claimed fame by her acts of devotion. It would be a big delight for those who are interested in spiritual reads as it provides a clear understanding of the concept of bhakti.

For me it was a wonderful read. Overall, a book to taste, chew and digest.

[Sonali Dabade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a book for me, mostly because I'm not one who's much into spirituality. But I can see why this would appeal to many people. It does become lyrically beautiful in places but in many others, I became rather disconnected from it, because of which I lost interest in it.

[Nanthini · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who is lost, this book is the buoyance. It was for me.

[Deepak Pawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review includes interview with the author:
https://dgvpawar.blogspot.com/2019/01...