Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu

Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu
Native name
మల్లికార్జున పండితారాధ్యుడు
Bornc. 1110 CE
Diedc. 1185 CE
Vellaturu (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India)
OccupationPoet, Philosopher
LanguageTelugu, Kannada
Period12th century
GenreŚaiva literature
Literary movementBhakti movement, Veerashaivism
Notable worksŚivatattvasāramu
ChildrenKēdārayya Pandita

Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu (Telugu: [ˈmallikaːɾd͡ʒunpaɳɖitaːɾaːdʱjuɖu], Telugu: మల్లికార్జున పండితారాధ్యుడు, romanizedMallikārjuna Paṇḍitārādhyuḍu) was an Indian philosopher of Veerasaiva school and a Telugu poet from Andhra region. He was a poet in the court of Velanati Choda king Rajendra Choda II. His Śivatatvasāramu was the first independent Telugu work. Being a unique person of his era he contributed in spreading Saivism throughout Andhra region. He was credited with ending the remnants of Buddhism in Andhra land through his intellect and influence. For his prowess in Telugu language, he was generally referred to as Telugu: కవిమల్లు, romanizedKavimallu, lit.'Wrestler among poets'.