Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century CE and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived during the reign of the Western Chalukyas and who is regarded by some scholars as the "father of Vachana poetry." The word "vachanas" literally means "(that which is) said". These are readily intelligible prose texts. Jedara Dasimayya who lived in the mid 10th century is considered the first proponent of lingayatism.