Indian spiritual leader, humanitarian and educationist Shivkumar Swami passes away in Tumakuru on Monday morning following a long illness. The Lingayat seer had been in and out of hospitals for the past two months.
Supercentenarian Shivakumara Swamiji was popularly known as “Nadedaduva Devaru” (Walking God) in Karnataka.
Upon his demise, Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy expressed his condolence. HD Kumaraswamy who had cancelled all his commitments for the day and reached the mutt on Monday afternoon, said, “The walking god is no longer with us. The doctors treating him have informed us of his demise. The seer’s body will be kept for public viewing tomorrow at 3 pm. He has contributed a lot to the society. He has provided free education to thousands of poor children and has provided free meals to thousands of people for as long as he lived. I am extremely saddened by his demise.”
He added, “His services of providing food, shelter and education to the needy and poor was a model for everyone beyond the borders of region, language, caste and religion.”
He remembered the occasion when Swamiji was conferred with Karnataka Ratna award during his previous tenure as Chief Minister and said that “I was fortunate to do so and will cherish that memory forever”.
He said, “Sri Shivakumara Swamiji’s sad demise is an immense loss to the state, country. We all have lost a guiding force. Tuesday will be a government holiday on account of his death. On Tuesday till 3 pm, the mortal remains of the seer will be kept open public for Darshan.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted, saying, “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.”
His Holiness 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. pic.twitter.com/AqgOLgqTrn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2019
On his centenary in 2007, the then Karnataka government had conferred the Karnataka Ratna, the highest civilian award in the state, to the seer. In 2015, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan.
Kumaraswamy has urged the Centre to confer the prestigious Bharat Ratna on the seer Shivakumara Swamiji.
Born on April 1, 1907, in Veerapura village of Ramanagara district in Karnataka, the seer is involved in philanthropic activities and was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Union government in 2015.
