Vijayapura (Karnataka): Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Karnataka seer Sri Siddheshwara Swami who passed away while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a hospital here on Monday. The Prime Minister recalled the seer's outstanding service to society and his tireless efforts for the betterment of the people.
In a tweet late on Monday night, the Prime Minister conveyed his condolences, saying that in this hour of grief, his thoughts were with the countless devotees of Sri Siddheswara Swami, seer of Sri Jnana Yogashrama here in Karnataka's Vijayapura.
The Swamiji was 81 and was suffering from age-related ailments for several weeks and had been confined to a wheelchair. He suffered from breathing issues apart from other health complications, however, he had refused treatment and was only taking pain relief medication, according to doctors.
Swamiji breathed his last at 6.05 pm on Monday. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, Vijayapura District Collector said. Devotees have started to rush towards the math and police have beefed up the security. On Saturday, Chief Minister Bommai and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi visited the math and inquired about the seer's health. At the same time, PM Narendra Modi had also spoken to him over the phone.
The 81-year-old seer was suffering from age-related ailments for some time now. Announcing the passing away of the seer who was known as "walking god" among his disciples, Deputy Commissioner of Vijayapura, Vijay Mahantesh Danammanava said he breathed his last at the ashram Monday evening.
A large number of devotees and followers had gathered at the Jnanayogashrama premises to pay their last respects and many of them were inconsolable. The seer has devotees and followers spread across Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states as well.
The Karnataka government has decided to accord Siddeshwar Swami a state funeral. The Vijayapura district administration has declared a holiday of schools and colleges and government offices on Tuesday as a mark of respect to the departed and to facilitate the public to offer their final respects. His mortal remains will be kept in the ashram for the public to pay their last respects until 4:30 am on Tuesday, thereafter it will be shifted to Sainik School premises where also people can pay their respects. It will once again be brought to the ashram where the last rites will be performed at 5 pm, an official statement said.
According to the ashram, the final rites of the seer will be performed as per his wishes which he had recorded on 'Guru Purnima' day of 2014. The seer had refused to eat for the third day on Monday, ashram sources said. With the seer's health deteriorating since Monday morning, a huge crowd had gathered outside the ashram and waited to get a glimpse of him. They had refused to go away despite repeated requests from the ashram authorities.
According to Jnanayogashrama, at a very young age of 14, Swamiji got his spiritual calling and soon came under the discipleship of Shri Mallikarjuna Swamiji. While staying with the Guru itself, he completed all his education. Being soft-spoken and having a simple appearance, Swamiji was "very unassuming". Swamiji has written several books on Upanishads, Gita, Sharana philosophy and general spirituality. Some of his major works are Siddhanta Shikhamani, Allamaprabhu's Vachana Nirvachana, Bhagavad Chintana (Reflections of the Divine). He has also written books in English.
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, several of Bommai's cabinet colleagues, state Congress President D K Shivakumar, among others, expressed grief over the seer's demise.
