 Vachana poetry, developed in reaction to the rigid caste-based Hindu society, attained its peak in popularity among the under-privileged during the 12th century.Though these poems did not employ any regular metre or rhyme scheme, they are known to have originated from the earlier "tripadi" metrical form.The Veerashaivas, who wrote this poetry, had risen to influential positions by the Vijayanagara period (14th century).