TUMAKURU: President Droupadi Murmu lauded the services of Sri Shivakumara Swamiji on the occasion of the 119th birth anniversary of the seer at the Siddaganga Mutt on Wednesday.
Murmu said the seer had followed the ‘kayakave kailasa’ (work is worship) philosophy of the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna in true spirit and expressed confidence that Karnataka will continue to contribute towards nation-building. The event started with the chant, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, three times, with the audience joining in. The President began her address in Kannada, greeting the audience, ‘sahodara, sahodariye’ and concluded it with the exhortation, ‘Jai Karnataka.’
“Karnataka offers some of the most impressive examples of public service, national service, spirituality, and modernity. For this, the hardworking and talented residents of Karnataka deserve congratulation. I am confident that Karnataka will continue to advance as a leading centre for nation-building,” she said.
“Saints like Sri Shivakumar Swamiji embody the soul of our society and nation. His physical body merged with the Supreme Being in 2019, but his spiritual stream will continue to nourish the society and the nation forever. His life, dedicated to serving the poor and the marginalized, is a remarkable example of spirituality expressed through welfare work”, she remarked.
She commended the Mutt for carrying forward the Swamiji’s legacy of good deeds, the efforts to provide free food, shelter and education to a large number of rural people and felt pleased to learn that education is available from primary school to higher education in engineering and management by establishing numerous institutions.
She observed that the Mutt had been following the ideals of Basavanna, who centuries ago, set the example of a democratic system of functioning based on universal participation preaching ‘Dayave Dharmada Mulvayya (compassion is the basis of all faiths).
While mentioning the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram,’ she recalled that Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s ‘Karnataka Geete’ describes Mother Karnataka as the daughter of Mother India. “That immortal song, ‘Jai Bharat Jananiya Tanujate, Jai Hey Karnataka Mate,’ awakens a sense of pride for Karnataka and national unity in the hearts of all countrymen,” she said.
Protocol disarray delays President’s arrival on stage
Murmu’s arrival on the dais was delayed due to confusion over seating arrangements. Seating was provided to the present head of the Mutt Sri Siddalinga Swamiji next to the President, on her left. Even as Union Minister of State for Railways and Jalshakti V Somanna insisted on the same, the protocol officers did not accede to it. Only after the protocol was maintained the governor went to receive the President.
Seats were kept for Union Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara and Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on the President’s left. On the right, seats were given to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, V Somanna, Industries Minister MB Patil and Sri Siddalinga Swamiji. Organisers had assumed that the protocol would be similar to that maintained during the visit of Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on January 21.
Modi, Shah pay tributes
PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to Sri Shivakumara Swamiji on the occasion of his 119th birth anniversary.
“On the occasion of his Jayanti, paying tributes to His Holiness Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu. He stands in collective memory as an embodiment of compassion, humility and unwavering service to humanity. Through a lifetime dedicated to uplifting others, he demonstrated that true greatness lies in serving others,” PM Modi stated on social media platform X.
“His remarkable contributions across education, social welfare and spirituality have left an enduring imprint on society. Even today, his life continues to guide and inspire countless individuals to walk the path of selflessness and service,” the PM added.
Modi also shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam emphasising altruism and service, underlining the saint’s philosophy of living for the welfare of others.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the swamiji as a revered saint who dedicated his life to compassion and education. He said the legacy of the Siddaganga Mutt remains an enduring inspiration for selfless service.