Tumakuru: Siddganga Seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji well known as “Trividha Dasohi” and “Nadedaduva Devaru” among his followers turned 110 on April 1.
A grand Guruvandana programme at Siddaganga Matt marked the celebration of his birthday amid thousands of dignitaries cutting across various walks of life gathered there to wish the centenarian seer and seek his blessings.
Some of the devotees have urged the central government to honour the seer with nation’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
In the year 2007, the JDS –BJP coalition government had honoured the seer with state’s highest civilian award Karnataka Ratna, when he turned had 100.
In real terms, Siddaganga seer is greater than Bharath Ratna, yet he richly deserves that, opined Koppal Nagaraj, one of his staunch followers.
Instrumental in educating 8000 children annually by providing food and shelter and with more than 1,25,000 pupil studying in the institutions run by the matt during the last 50 years, seer Shivakumara Swamiji deserves rich accolades, said C B Mahadev, a hotelier.
Even state Home Minister G Parameshwara had written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah some time ago to suggest the name of the seer to the nation’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
Advocate Shivaraj B Nanjappa has urged Prime Minister Modi to discuss with the President on honouring the centenarian seer with Bharat Ratna.
The clamour among his devotees is reaching its peak and some even opposed the government’s move of honouring cricketer Sachin Tendulkar leaving aside the seer whom many consider as the “Walking Deity.”
The day began with the seer taking part in “Ishta Linga Pooja” in the morning at 5 am which lasted for nearly two hours. The seer looked cheerful on the day and was seen performing his duties in an admirable manner. Thousands of his followers, well-wishers thronged the matt during the day to seek his “Darshan” and blessings.
