mahAvIra
the digambara munI, who gave up everything to conquer himself.
buddha
buddha gautama shramaNa, philosophical and social revolutionary, who (unfortunately) opened up paths towards Ananda to a broader section of the society. This led to an unfortunate increase in ascetic tendencies in hindu society.
kAlIdAsa
mahAkavi.
sOmEshvara chAlukya
the polymath author of manasollAsa.
hemachandra-sUrI
a vaishya by birth, brilliant grammarian in the chAlukya court - MT.
mANikkavAchakar
author of Tiruvachakam, who with his “sorcery” reputedly returned the Manichi nairs to the hindu fold from the Syrian church [Ar].
appAr the nAyanAr
who liked to clean temples with his hoe [VA].
akka-mahAdEvI
the nude vIrashaiva poetess - for her boldness and freedom.
- To be continued.