The 108th birthday of Shivakumara Swami, seer of the Siddaganga Mutt, was celebrated on the premises of the mutt here on Wednesday. The seer, who has made tremendous contributions to the field of education, also abides by the principles of 12th Century social reformer, Basaveshwara and has followers cutting across caste and religion.
The seer, venerated as ‘Nadedaduva Devaru’ (walking God) provides free food, education and shelter to thousands of students, irrespective of caste and religion.
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Dr. Shivakumara Swami was born on April 1, 1908, at Veerapura in Magadi taluk of Ramanagaram district. He was initiated into Viraktha ashrama in 1930.
The strength of the gurukula was just 200 when Shivakumara Swami assumed full responsibility of the mutt in 1941. Realising his huge responsibility, he set out on foot with his ‘joilige’ to the villages to collect foodgrains and vegetables from the people to feed the hungry stomachs of the mutt.
He is the founder of 132 institutions ranging from nurseries to institutions of technology, Pure Science, Arts and Management, Science, and vocational training.
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He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2015.
President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee G. Parameshwara, who was present at the event, demanded that the Union government confer the Bharat Ratna on Shivakumara Swami for his contributions in the field of education.
Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the 108th birthday celebrations will be held on the premises of the mutt between June 21 and 28.
They plan to invite President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the celebrations. He said a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation will meet Mr. Modi to press for a Bharat Ratna for the seer.
Hundreds of devotees, including politicians across parties, visited the mutt, and people stood in long queues to seek the seer’s blessings.
Parameshwara has said that the Union government should confer the Bharat Ratna on the seer