Bengaluru: Lakhs of devotees including the VIPs and VVIPs thronged to witness the last rites of Siddaganga Pontiff Late Shree Shivakumara Swamiji mortal remains today. The centenarian seer will be laid to rest in a tomb as per the rituals of the Lingayat community. Among the VVIPs was Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev who arrived at Tumkur, here on Tuesday, January 22.

After reaching Kempegowda International Airport Limited (KIA), Baba Ramdev addressed the media and said, “Personalities from across various fields have been awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna.’ Why shouldn’t Shivakumara Swamiji who has fed lakhs of people, provided quality education and done social service be given the nations highest honour.

He said that the ‘Guru Parampara’ (lineage of gurus) was a tradition of India and the practice of donating too began from here. ‘Kaiyakave Kailasa’ (Work is Worship) was the 12th century social reformer Basavanna’s motto, which even in the modern world Shivakumara Swamiji had followed.

He expressed his grief saying, “This is a great loss not only to the state of Karnataka but the whole country and the spiritual world.”

Meanwhile, Baba Ramdev said that by conferring Bharat Ratna on Shivakumara Swamiji, the award itself will get more value.

Last rites held at Shivakumara Swamiji specified area

The last rites of Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swamiji is going on at a place opposite the Sanskrit School in the Mutt premises.

If sources are to be believed then this is the place that the Walking God himself chose way back in 1980s and conveyed it to his disciples that at this location his ‘Samadhi’ would be built.

Siddaganga Pontiff Late Shivakumara Swamiji’s photograph courtesy: G Mohan