Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu

Works Mallikarjuna wrote which was the first independent work in Telugu. It had 489 short verses and contains information about the Saivism preached by him. He later translated that work into Kannada. It is one of the earliest Satakas in Telugu literature. The trio of Nanne Choda, Mallikarjuna and Somanatha are referred as (i.e. Trio of Saivite Poets). These trio along with Piduparthi poets and Yathavakkula Annamayya pioneered Veera Saiva movement in Andhra region. Some other works by Mallikarjuna include , , and .

Contribution to Saivism Mallikarjuna was influenced by Basaveswara. He seems to be the very first Telugu poet who laud Basaveswara in Andhra region. He contributed to the emergence of Aradhya sect which encompasses elements from Vedic traditions and Veerashaivism. Mallikarjuna, and (also known as Sivalenka) are prominent among founders of Panditaradhya saivite sects during Middle Ages in Andhra region. These three were referred as (i.e. Trio of Scholars) in Veera Saiva tradition. These three were disciples of Basava. The descendants of Mallikarjuna came to be known as Aradhya Saivites. However, Mallikarjuna differs from Basava on the aspects of the authority of Vedas and Varna system. Nevertheless, few centuries later the amicable relations between Aradhya saivism of Mallikarjuna and Lingayatism of Basava became a necessity in the wake of Islamic invasions from the North (i.e. Delhi Sultanate).

Biography Veerasaivite poet Palkuriki Somanatha wrote '' which contains a legendary biography of Mallikarjuna. This work belongs to the genre of Telugu literature that contains generally legendary biographies of a notable personality.