New Delhi: Recalling Siddaganga Seer Shree Shivakumara Swamigalu for remaining at the forefront of ensuring better healthcare and education facilities for the marginalised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the centenarian seer, who passed away due to age-related issues on Monday, undertook a wide range of community service initiatives.
Mr Modi tweeted, ''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.''
''Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu remained at the forefront of ensuring better healthcare and education facilities for the marginalised. He represents the best of our traditions of compassionate service, spirituality and protecting the rights of the underprivileged,'' the Prime Minister added.
He said, ''Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu lived for the people, especially the poor and vulnerable. He devoted himself towards alleviating ills like poverty, hunger and social injustice. Prayers and solidarity with his countless devotees spread all across the world.''
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also took to the microblogging site to condole the death of the Siddaganga seer and said, ''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.''
The 111-year-old Siddaganga Seer, called 'Nadadaduva Devaru' (Walking God) passionately by devotees, had been ailing for the past few months. The Siddaganga Math officials announced that the seer passed away at 1140 hrs. The burial will be performed at 1630 hrs on Tuesday.
The mortal remains of the seer will be kept for public viewing at Siddaganga Math at Kyatasandra on the outskirts of Tumakuru city.Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who had rushed to the Tumakuru Math, announced the passing away of the most revered religious leader of Karnataka this afternoon.
Thousands of students within the math and millions across the world were praying for the recovery of the Swamiji, but wept in great grief after the final announcement was made.
Karnataka government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday in honor of the seer, a champion who worked for social reforms and free education for thousands of the poor across the society.(UNI)