Shivakumara Swami, the chief seer of Sree Siddaganga Mutt, passed away on Monday (File image) | Photo Credit: IANS

Tumkur: Shivakumara Swami, the chief seer of Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Karnataka, passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 111. The revered seer had been critical since December 8 after he contracted a lung infection following an operation. Confirming the news of the seer's demise, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy told reporters, "Siddaganga Math seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji passed away at 11.44 am today. The cremation will be done on 22nd January at 4.30 pm."

As the news of his sad demise was confirmed, a large number of grieving devotees had started thronging the Mutt. Meanwhile, the Kumaraswamy government has announced three-day state mourning.

Swami, who was also known as Nadedaduva Devaru (The Walking God), had been operated to treat an infection in his liver and bile duct. After he developed a lung infection, he was hospitalised on January 3 but was later shifted back to his mutt. After his condition worsened, he was put on a ventilator. As per reports, he had shown signs of improvement on Sunday but his condition had again deteriorated on Monday morning. Also read: Siddaganga Mutt seer no more: Who was Shivakumara Swami?

Since early Monday morning, senior politicians of the state, including CM Kumaraswamy, Deputy CM G Parameshwara, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, MB Patil, KJ George, and Sadananda Gowda, had rushed to Siddaganga Mutt to inquire about the seer's health.

He was regarded as one of the most revered religious and social practitioners of the Lingayat-Veerashaiva faith of Lingayatism, whose influence transcended political differences. Swami was presented with Padma Bhushan in 2015, and both Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa had previously said that the seer should also receive Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.

I have had the privilege to visit the Sree Siddaganga Mutt and receive the blessings of His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu.



The wide range of community service initiatives being done there are outstanding and are at an unimaginably large scale. pic.twitter.com/wsmRp2cERd — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2019

I am sorry to hear about the passing of Shivakumar Swami Ji, Pontiff of the Siddaganga Mutt. Swami Ji was respected & revered by millions of Indians, from all religions & communities. His passing leaves behind a deep spiritual void. My condolences to all his followers. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 21, 2019

The 111-year-old sage played a crucial role in providing food, shelter, and education to lakhs of children belonging to economically weaker sections of the society, without any prejudice and discrimination based on the lines of caste, creed, colour, region, and religion.

State Holiday tomorrow for schools and colleges in Karnataka

On Monday, politicians across party lines paid their tributes to the revered seer and expressed their grief on his demise. PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said, "I have had the privilege to visit the Sree Siddaganga Mutt and receive the blessings of His Holiness Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu. The wide range of community service initiatives being done there are outstanding and are on an unimaginably large scale."

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also tweeted his condolences and said that Swami's passing had left behind a "deep spiritual void." He said in his tweet, "I am sorry to hear about the passing of Shivakumar Swami Ji, Pontiff of the Siddaganga Mutt. Swami Ji was respected & revered by millions of Indians, from all religions & communities. His passing leaves behind a deep spiritual void. My condolences to all his followers."

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