He was a great mystic and a Kannada poet who was a part of Basavanna's Lingayat revolution during the 12th century.

[1] Along with Basava, Allama Prabhu, Devara Dasimayya and Channabasava, Siddharama is regarded as the most acknowledged and respected poets.

[citation needed] Vachanakaras wrote in the genre of Veerashaiva, under Kannada literature from the mystic period.

He shares the world view of other vachana poets in his rejection of blind conventions of caste and sex discrimination and emphasis on realization through personal experience.

[4] When Siddarama was seven years old, Shiva appeared in the guise of a Jangam Swamiji and called himself Mallinath from Srisailam.

Then he inquired every object and every person about the whereabouts of Mallayya running over the length and breadth of Shrishail.

As Siddharama was about to jump in the valley, Lord Mallikarjun (Mallinath) appeared and caught hold of him by his hands.

The Lord Mallinath asked Siddharam to return to Sonnalgie to end grief on earth[citation needed].

To this day Siddha Ramappa Kolanu, a beautiful scenic spot can be seen located just a kilometre from main Srisailam temple, on its northern side.

Shivayogi Siddharama returned to Sonnalgie; the ruler of that time Nannappa and his wife Chamala Devi gave him 5 kosa land as they were told to do by a vision of Lord Shiva.

He encouraged people to conduct mass weddings, and do other public works, which would benefit mankind.

At Anubhava Mantapa Allama, Siddarama, Chennabasavanna, Basavanna and others discussed the need for Istalinga.

After his initiation, Siddarama made rapid progress along the path of Shivayoga, and in course of time succeeded Chennabasavanna on Shunya Simhasana, or the pontificial throne.

Though he was at first inclined towards visible works such as construction of tanks and temples, installation of Lingas, establishment of alms-housed etc., as calculated to lead him to Heaven, he came later, under Prabhu's influence, to believe that such philanthropic works by themselves, any more than the possession of the third eye, the daily access to Kailasa and such other yogic accomplishments, would not lead to Mukti.

Another important point is the citing of Siddharama's vachanas in the inscriptions of the Sevuna period.

There was a temple here dedicated to Kudala Sangamadeva which attracted pilgrims and devotees from Karnataka and other places.

Scholars like M. M. Kalburgi, M. S. Vrishabhendraswamy, M. S. Nagaraja Rao and others have studied this problem in great detail.