Tumakuru, Karnataka, Jan 21 (UNI) People across Karnataka fell to deep grief after the passing away of noted social reformer and the 111-year-old Shree Shivakumara swamiji passed away due to age related ailments at Siddaganga Mutt on the outskirts of the city on Monday.
Considered as a great humanitarian and lovably called as ‘Walking God’, by his devotees, the senior Seer of the Siddaganga Mutt ended his life at 11.44 AM today, and later in the afternoon Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy announced his demise.
People anticipating the end thronged in thousands in the city and all roads leading to Tumakuru was clogged with vehicular traffic.
Police mounted high security bringing security personnel from across the nearby district. No untoward incidents were reported in the city or elsewhere in the state, ADGP Dayanand said at the math premises.
The Swamiji, revered as a ‘Walking God’ was born in April 1, 1907 in a poor farmer’s family. He was inducted into the Math as early as in 1930 and continued to lead till he breathed his last on Monday.
The last rites of the Swamiji, the “Kriya Samadhi” that he had chosen three decades ago, will be held in the Math premises on Tuesday with full state state honors, Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy announced at the mutt premises.
State government had also announced a three-days of mourning across the state.
The Seer, Padma Bhushan awardee is revered by the people of the state, for his self-less service for the upliftment of the people of the every community, for the last several decades, and many of whom have achieved top positions across India and World had been visiting him time and again to pay their obeisance.
His service to mankind is appreciated by people irrespective of caste, creed and gender in the last eight decades in the state.
The Siddaganga Seer, had empowered lakhs of people at Siddaganga Mutt, where he had overseen empowerment of poor children by offering free education, food as well as shelter in the mutt premises.
Numerous people in the country emerged as the leading politicians, social leaders, IAS, IPS officers, doctors, engineers, educationists, Scientists, among the alumni’s of the educational institutions run by the mutt, in the span of over eight decades.
Scores of dignitaries, both from India and abroad, including India Presidents heads of leading political parties had visited the Mutt located at Kyathsandra village in Tumakuru district, and lauded the service of the Math engaged in the emancipation of the poorer sections in the society.
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