Panel names successor for Rudrakshi Mutt

Belagavi: Savalagishwara Devaru (in pic) of Shivalingeshwar Mutt at Tubachi in Jamakhandi taluk of Bagalkot district has been selected as the pontiff of the prestigious Naganuru Rudrakshi Mutt in Belagavi.
Panchama Shivalingeshwar Swami of Nidasosi and Shivanand Swami of Handigund announced the name of the successor here on Monday. A committee of 13 members appointed by present seer Siddaram Swami selected Savalagishwara Devaru.
Siddaram Swami had taken the decision of appointing his successor to the mutt after he was named the pontiff of Tontadarya Mutt in Gadag after the death of Tontada Siddalinga Swami a few months ago. Siddaram Swami decided to appoint a successor to Rudrakshi Mutt as looking after the management of both the mutts became difficult.
Savalagishwara Devaru, 32, completed his primary education in the hostel of Naganuru Rudrakshi Mutt. He took up religious education when he was a high school student at Shivayog Mandir in Badami from 1999 to 2003. He completed his graduation from Karnatak College, Dharwad and later went on to do MA in Philosophy in 2012 from Karnataka University and won a gold medal too. The seer has also done a PhD from Rani Channamma University on - ‘A comparative study of Basavanna and Martin Luther King’s philosophies.’
Savalagishwara Devaru has been serving in Naganuru Rudrakshi Mutt for the past 15 years and is engaged in spreading Basava philosophy. He has also conducted several religious Sanskar camps.