Latest Updates | Last rites of Shivakumara Swamiji in Tumakuru: Sitharaman lays wreath on behalf of PM Modi
The last rites of Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Mutt was held in Karnataka's Tumakuru today. The 111-year-old seer passed away on Monday after a prolonged illeness. The seer was suffering from lung infection for the past few weeks and was put on life support on January 11. He had been in and out of hospitals in recent years due to various health issues.
Union ministers DV Sadananda Gowda and Defence MInister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the funeral and laid wreath on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On behalf of the Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi, Smt @nsitharaman paid homage to His Holiness Shri Shri Dr Shivakumar Swami pic.twitter.com/oGZT3rWqeQ
— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 22, 2019
Tumkur: #Visuals from the last rites ceremony of Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Mutt; he passed away yesterday. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/VoCJ2DD8Q1
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2019
Thousands of grieving followers gathered at his hermitage where he was shifted to on January 16 on his own request, though he had not fully recovered in the hospital where he was admitted. He miraculously recovered but breathed his last on Monday morning.
Many men and women broke down outside his ashram as news of his death spread.
His demise was mourned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, BJP President Amit Shah and scores of political leaders in Karnataka, including Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
"His holiness passed away at 11.44 a.m. at the Mutt during treatment for lung infection," Kumaraswamy told the media in Tumakuru.
The Karnataka government has declared a holiday in the state on Tuesday.
The seer also headed the Sree Siddaganga Education Society, which runs about 125 educational institutions in the state - from engineering colleges to business schools.
Many of the institutions offer free education and boarding facilities to poor students.
Fluent in English, Kannada and Sanskrit, the seer was widely respected for his secular outlook and the charitable activities he presided over.
Karnataka leaders urged the Union government to confer the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, on the seer for his philanthropic work.
Born on April 1, 1907 in Veerapura village of Ramanagara district in Karnataka, the Swami was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2015.
(With inputs from agencies)