Chikkupadhyaya


Chikkupadhyaya was born to RangAcharya and NachiyAramma in TerakanAmbi in Mysore district of Karnataka. His name at birth was Lakshmipathi. He was the elder twin brother of Devaraja. He belonged to a family of Vedic scholars and poets. He traces his lineage to Sri Allaalanatha and the family deity being Kanchi Varadaraja.
He later moved to and settled in Melkote in Mandya district. He belonged to Shatamarshana lineage of Hebbar Srivaishnava community. Nathamuni, Aalavandaar, Periya Thirumalai nambi and Bhagavadh Raamanuja's mother all belonged to Shatamarshana lineage. Chikkupadhyaya was a disciple of Sri Kadambi Singaracharya.
The title of Chikkupadhyaya was conferred on Lakshmipathi by His Royal Highness Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar for whom he acted as minister and teacher. 'ChikkupAdhyAya' in Kannada means teacher of Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar.
He could be the most prolific writer of Kannada literature. He has more than 30 literary works to his credit. His best known works are Vishnu Purana, Kamalachala Mahatmya, Hastigiri Mahatmya, Rukmangada Charite, Satvikabrahma-Vidya-Vilasa on Visishtadvaita philosophy, and Yadugiri Mahatmya in praise of Kadambi Srirangacharya
His other well-known works are Divya Suri Charitre, a history of the twelve Alvar saints; Artha Panchaka, on saint Pillai Lokacharya; a commentary on Tiruvayimozhi of mystic-saint Nammalvar; and a collection of seventy songs called Shringarada Hadugalu in praise of his patron Chikka Devaraja.
His works are
  1. aksharamAlika sAngathya
  2. Amaruka shathaka
  3. kamalAchala mahAthmya
  4. kAmandaka teekay
  5. Chikkadevraja shtungAra padagalu
  6. chithra shathaka sAngathya
  7. ThiruvAymozhi teekay
  8. divya sUri charithe
  9. Neethi shathakada sAngathya
  10. paschima ranga mahAthmya
  11. purusha virahada sAngathya
  12. Yadugiri sAngathya
  13. yAdava giri mahAthmya
  14. rangadhAma sthuthi sAngathya
  15. paschima ranga sAngathya
  16. rangaswamiya sUthra udAharaNe
  17. rukmangadacharithe
  18. Vishnu PurANa
  19. Vishnu PurANa gadya
  20. Venkatagiri mahAthmya
  21. VaidyAmritha teelay
  22. shuka sapthathi
  23. ShrungAra shathakada sAngathya
  24. ALavndhAr sthOthra teeku
  25. Bhagavadgeetha teeku
  26. Hasthigiri mahAthmya
  27. sAthvika brahma vidya vilAsa
  28. mukunda mAla teeku
  29. sri ranganAtha paduka sahasra teeku
  30. Padma purANa samhitha teeku
  31. prapannAmritha padya rUpa