Panchacharyas

Panchacharyas previously known as Chaturacharyas, are religious figures of Veerashiva denomination of Shaivism. Veerashaivism is thought to be an evolution of the Kalamukha Shaiva Jiyar tradition. Panchacharya means five sages, referring to Renukacharya, Darukacharya, Ekorama, Panditharadhya, and Vishwaradhya, their iconography is sage emerging from the five Shivalingams of the Panchapeethas. They are seated in Panchapeethas (five monasteries) known as Veera (Rambhapuri), Saddharma (Ujjaini), Vairagya (Kedar), Surya (Srisailam), and Jnana (Kashi) Shimhasanas. Renukacharya is first mentioned in Siddhanta Shikhamani, in the Sanskrit language written by Shivayogi Shivacharya, it is regarded as holy book for the Veerashaivas.