We are a Temple that belives in God and the followers
and We are a Temple that belives in Shiva
Our INDIA.. Bharat Bhoomi, has been the nation nurturing and promoting various religions..various religious sects and sectors, since so many centuries. That has been the birthplace of different religions like Buddhism, Jainism , Vaishnavism and so many others. Not only that, it has grown vertically and horizontally going along with them and strengthening itself. That work has been perennially done through so many social, cultural, spiritual and religious avatars and organisations. To this category Shri Bhimashankar Math stands as manifest proof.
Being established in the 17 th century Shri Bhimashankar Math has been remaining as Nath Sampradaya Math propagating Shaivamata Siddhant and later Shaakta Dutt lineage. It was established with a Shaivamata base attached to Dutt Sampradaya .
Bindige Mahime (Earthenpot Miracle) aradhana is the center spot of spiritual-religious of this Math and it is being celebrated till now. The main deity worshipped in this historical pooja celebration is Kolkur Siddhabasaveshvara. His biography goes like this.
During the 16th century Shri Siddhabasaveshvara pilgrimaging from Shivakanchi came to Mahashivalaya which is now known as Mashyal village of Afzalpur tq.,Gulbarga dt. In a field across the creek he sat meditating, spreading a shati (kaashaya vastra) in a distance without any support, hung over his head. In the meanwhile Kulkarni Ambaraya who comes there is mesmerised seeing this yogi quietly meditating under the spread of shati. He prostrates flat before him. The yogi when opened his eyes, was very happy seeing his devotion and tells him to ask for a boon. Overwhelmed at this,childless Ambaraya asks for a son. While spending his days in the service of the yogi there was a change in his desire. Ambaraya prayed for a jnana-bodha which is higher than the materialistic desire for a son. Then Siddhabasaveshvara blesses him with a guru mantra. The yogi narrates to him on the Guru Mahime and asks him to continue the worshiping of Gurupada pooja. Accordingly Ambaraya celebrates Gurupada pooja during Margashir Maasa on the day of Shuddha Tritiya . In course of time a son is born to him. He was named as Panduranga.That Panduranga was blessed with a son called Gurappa who eventually got enlightened, transferred the family yoke to his son Yogappaya and went to Bhringavalli (now known as Bhingolli), four kilometers away from Mashyal and continued Gurupada pooja, year after year. Gurappaya in his spiritual advancement comes to be known as siddhapurusha.
As the days rolled by Gurappaya thus living in Bhringavalli has the darshan of a yogi coming from Kashi. His name was Ramji Gosavi.. This yogi was also called as Siddhabasava / Ramanatha / Ramananda or Ramdas as per the notes of historical chroniclers. Gurappaya was blessed by this yogi.
Belonging to that dynasty Bhimashankar, the protagonist of this heritage Math at Sindagi, was born between 1658 - 1660 AD. His original name was Sankanna (Shankara). He was born to the pious couple Gurunath and Savitribai of Sindagi Kulkarni family. As prophesied by the yogi he develops liking for Gods and spiritual literature. He spends most of his time in worshipful godly activities. The family environment was also very conducive for this. He becomes more and more enlightened His parents performed his upanayana at a proper time and later his marriage with Girijabai, the daughter of Venkubai of Marali village (now called Malli) of Gulbarga dt. probably in 1675 AD. After marriage without sitting idly at home Sankanna begins to work as a clerk in a village toll unit at Balaganur, 20 kilometers away from Sindagi. Through his fast friend Bhimanna Kulkarni he comes to know the greatness of a yogi Gurappaya of Bhringavalli. Because of his spiritual advancement Sankanna desires to meet yogi Gurappaya and he visits him with his friend Bhimanna. Drowned in the karunasagar of yogi Gurappaya, Sankanna yearns for getting deeksha from him . He expresses this desire to his friend and urges him also to get initiation from the yogi. So both friends meet the yogi and pray for deeksha. Then , the yogi pacifies them telling, “Not now, I will call you both when the opportune time comes.”
After some days during 1680 (Shalivahana shake 1602) yogi Gurappaya sends a message to all his devotees including Sankanna and Bhimanna of Balaganur. During that time Bhimanna was not in the village. So Sankanna with a heavy heart goes to Bhringavalli, alone. Yogi feeling pity for Bhimanna calls Sankanna and initiates him, telling him, “You are the Bhima and you are the Shankara and be known as Bhimashankar.” The yogi instructs him to continue the Guruparampara doing Guruaradhana every year.
Being initiated thus, Bhimashankar coming to Balaganur installs the main deity Siddhabasaveshwara Linga. And he comes to be known as siddha purusha. During 1686AD Vijayapura came under the rule of Aurangzeb. The places around it have been very active during the wars. Moreover the places were affected by droughts and diseases. At this time Bhimashankar went on pilgrimage with his wife and children. Visiting many places they came to Gokarna. While returning to Sindagi they had to stay at Laxmeshwar as Girijabai was fully pregnant. There , she gives birth to the second child named Shivaram, who later becomes very famous as sadhak and janani as per the notes of historians. Then Bhimashankar lives in Laxmeshwar for 12 years , the period which the biographers record it as his vanaprastha. The reason for staying there for 12 years is the divine company of a siddha purusha there . Under the guidance of that yogi Bhimashankar undertakes many devi upasanas and possesses ashta siddhis. Thus after spending 12 years in Laxmeshwar he returns to Sindagi. After staying there for a few days he comes to Malli ( Jewargi tq. Gulbarga dt.), his wife’s parents' place. There he got himself initiated to sanyasa from Shri Shankara Bharati, the then head of Sringeri Math, on the holy day of Uttarashada Shubakrachavana Trayodashi (Saturday of 1722 AD). Later he establishes Shri Math at Sindagi. After a few years in 1725 AD Girijabai leaves her physical body. Then Bhimashankar comes to Sindagi once.Later visiting Surpur, Amareshvar, Kanakagiri, he comes to Siddhaparvata and sits for anushtan there. During this time the kings of Anegundi felicitate him in their royal court. Then Bhimashankar does his spiritual sadhana for 4 years at Hampi and comes to Sindagi. Thus spending 71 years in intense spiritual sadhana he into a live samadhi at Sindagi Math.
After Bhimashankar , Jakkappayya was the successor to Sindagi Math. He was the first son of Bhimashankar and Girijamba. During his childhood only , he argued with his father Bhimashankar to keep open The Bindagi Pooja hitherto done in secrecy. That helped many people to know the greatness of the place and the Pooja. So many miracles happen in the well being of the people there. Later he was married to Lakshmidevi of Marsanalli. During his 47th year Jakkapayya is made the next pontiff of Bhimashankar math. During this time many kings, institutional heads and the rich give generous donations to After Bhimashankar , Jakkappayya was the successor to Sindagi Math. He was the first son of Bhimashankar and Girijamba. During his childhood only , he argued with his father Bhimashankar to keep open The Bindagi Pooja hitherto done in secrecy. That helped many people to know the greatness of the place and the Pooja. So many miracles happen in the well being of the people there. Later he was married to Lakshmidevi of Marsanalli. During his 47th year Jakkapayya is made the next pontiff of Bhimashankar math. During this time many kings, institutional heads and the rich give generous donations to After Bhimashankar , Jakkappayya was the successor to Sindagi Math. He was the first son of Bhimashankar and Girijamba. During his childhood only , he argued with his father Bhimashankar to keep open The Bindagi Pooja hitherto done in secrecy. That helped many people to know the greatness of the place and the Pooja. So many miracles happen in the well being of the people there. Later he was married to Lakshmidevi of Marsanalli. During his 47th year Jakkapayya is made the next pontiff of Bhimashankar math. During this time many kings, institutional heads and the rich give generous donations to the math in terms of land and wealth which result in the new and improved structure of the math and gets its institutional recognition. In this way the popularity of Bhimashankar math spread far and wide. Even now people call it Jakkkappayya math.
With his unusual spiritual attainments, blessing and enlightening the people, Jakkkappayya remained in the memory of the people and pages of math history. Thus he always kept himself busy in getting Aatmananda in Saadhana and Siddhis. He nursed and nurtured lokananda to his devotees with his tremendous love and concern. Jakkappayya left his physical body in the incessant Gurudhyaana in 1779 AD. Hearing this news Lakshmibai too who was then cooking in the kitchen, left her body.
After Jakkappayya, three generations were in Guptagaamini . Then Sadguru Appayyanavaru, Sadguru Sadashivappayyanavaru, Sadguru Dattappayya mahaswamigalu, Sadguru Sadashivappayyananvaru adorned the math. Now it is being led by young and vibrant Sri Sadguru Dattappayyanavaru.
