Karnataka village remembers social reforms teacher Revanasiddeshwara

Revanasiddeshwara is believed to have eradicated superstition and evil practices in villages. People in Vijayapura city in Karnataka worship before a statue built in his memory.

Bengaluru:A village in Vijayapura city of Karnataka has been worshipping the statue of a teacher - Revanasiddeshwara who is believed to have eradicated social evils from the village prevalent in the pre-independence era.

According to the villagers, Revanasiddeshwara started working as a government school teacher in the year 1917. After he returned to his village in Vijayapura city, he discovered that superstition, evil practices were widespread.

He then decided to dedicate his life towards social reforms. Major part of his salary was spent to bring about a positive change in society. Some say, he built a library from his earning to empower education and thereby laid a foundation for the educational revolution.

He left for his heavenly abode in 1925. Thereafter, the villagers set up a monastery in his name to keep his memory alive. The monastery has now become the center of spirituality where people come with various problems and pray for solutions.

A fair is held in the village on the day of Shivaratri in the name of Revanasiddeshwara.

Surprisingly, any child born in the village has Revanasidda name attached to their surname.