Muktayakka, revered as a prominent mystic within the Veerashaiva tradition, hailed from Lakkundi, while her husband was from Maslikallu. Her brother and spiritual guide, Ajaganna, played a significant role in her life. Deeply affected by Ajaganna's death, Muktayakka found solace and enlightenment through Allamaprabhu, who helped her see the reality of existence, as documented in "Shoonya Sampaadane." Thirty-two of her vachanas, bearing the signature "Ajaganna Thande," have been preserved. These writings serve as elegies for her brother and profound spiritual reflections.
Muktaayakka's intellectual and spiritual prowess was extraordinary. Her contributions to Vachana literature are highly esteemed, earning her respect from leading Sharanas like Basavanna, Channabasavanna, Allamaprabhu, and Siddharama. Her interactions with Allamaprabhu are especially notable, exemplifying a rare convergence of great mystic minds.
One of the most striking encounters in Veerashaiva tradition is the meeting between Muktaayakka and Allamaprabhu. Their exchange highlights her exceptional courage and conviction. Muktaayakka's boldness is evident when she challenges Allamaprabhu during a debate:
"You are not yet free from the need of words,
How then do you preach others what they should do?
You are not free from the body's needs
Why this mystic discourse with my brother?
Unless one becomes that,
How can one tell others about that?
If my Ajagana can manifest his knowledge
He does it without expressing it, mark."
Muktaayakka's straightforward language underscores her point: “A Sharana with no Karma speaks through silence. Since you speak about it, you lack personal experience." This confrontation between Muktayakka and Allamaprabhu encapsulates the essence of Advaita philosophy, articulated in their profound dialogue.
Unlike other Sharanas who traveled to Kalyana seeking the company and blessings of their peers, Muktayakka remained where she was, steadfast in her spiritual practice. Remarkably, Allamaprabhu, the greatest of the Sharanas, visited her, underscoring her spiritual significance and the high regard in which she was held within the Veerashaiva community.