Mahantha Shivacharya Swamiji (71), the Peethadapathi of Veerashaiva Lingayat Panchamasali Gurupeeta who passed away on Monday, was laid to rest with full state honours on the Panchamasali Srimutt premises near Harihar on Tuesday. The ‘Kriya Samadhi’ was performed at around 2.35 pm amid chanting of ‘Hara Hara Mahadeva’ by thousands of devotees.
Seers from across the state, Major Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, Wakf Minister S K Bellubbi, MP G M Siddeshwara, former CM B S Yeddyurappa, MLAs Sarvabhouma Bagali, Srishailappa Bidanur, Karadi Sanganna, Manjunath Kunnur, S S Patil, Siddusavadi and Nehru Olekar, former ministers Managuli, H K Patil, Allum Veerabhadrappa and Basavanagowda Patil Yetnal, former MLC H S Shivashankar and Shanthanagowda were present. The body was brought to Davangere from Bangalore by 6 pm on Monday and taken to the Guru Peetha which it reached at 10 pm.
It was taken to Srimutt on Tuesday morning and kept for public viewing. At about 1 pm, the body was shifted to a silver palanquin after performing pooja by Siddalinga Swamiji, then taken for ‘Kriya Samadhi.’