Shivakumara Swami
Shivakumara Swami on 12 June 2007, aged 100
Born
Shivanna

(1907-04-01)1 April 1907
Veerapur, Magadi, Kingdom of Mysore[1]
Died(2019-01-21)21 January 2019
(aged 111 years, 295 days)[2]
Tumkur, Karnataka, India
Other namesSiddaganga Swamigalu, Nadedaduva Devaru, Kayaka Yogi, Trivida Daasohi, Abhinava Basavanna[3]
EducationDoctor of Literature (honorary, 1965)
Occupations
Years active1930–2019
OrganizationSiddaganga Education Society
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2015)[2]
Karnataka Ratna (2007)[4]

Shivakumara Swami (born Shivanna; 1 April 1907 – 21 January 2019)[5] was an Indian humanitarian, spiritual leader, educator and supercentenarian. He was a Veerashaiva Lingayat religious figure. Swami joined the Siddaganga Matha in 1930 Karnataka and became head seer in 1941.[6] He also founded the Sri Siddaganga Education Society.[7] Described as the most esteemed adherent of Lingayatism (Veerashaivism),[8] he was referred to as Nadedaaduva Devaru (walking God) in the state.[2] In 2015, Swami was awarded by the Government of India the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award.[2]

Early life

Shivanna was born on 1 April 1907 in Veerapura, a village near Magadi in the former Kingdom of Mysore (in present-day Ramanagara district of Karnataka state) in a Vokkaliga family.[9] He was the youngest of thirteen children of Gangamma and Honne Gowda. Having been devoted followers of the deities Gangadhareshwara and Honnadevi, Shivanna's parents took him to the shrines in Shivagange, and other religious centres around Veerapura.[10][11] His mother Gangamma died when he was eight.[12]

Shivanna completed his elementary education in a rural Anglo-vernacular school in Nagavalli, a village in the present-day Tumkur district. He graduated in 1926. He was also briefly a resident-student at the Siddaganga Matha during this time. He enrolled in Central College of Bangalore to study in arts with physics and mathematics as optional subjects.[13] Shivanna was proficient in the Kannada, Sanskrit and English languages.[14]

Shivanna ended his attendance at college before earning a bachelor's degree because he had been named successor to Uddana Shivayogi Swami as head of the Siddaganga Matha.[15] Shivanna's friend and the heir to head the Matha, Sri Marularadhya, died on 16 January 1930. The incumbent chief Shivayogi Swami chose Shivanna to take Sri Marularadhya's place as heir. Upon formal initiation, Shivanna, renamed Shivakumara, entered the viraktashram (the monks' order) on 3 March 1930. He assumed the pontifical name Shivakumara Swami.[16][17] Following Shivayogi Swami's death on 11 January 1941, Shivanna assumed charge of the Matha.[18]

Social work

The Swami founded a total of 132 institutions for education and training, which range from a nursery school to colleges for engineering, science, arts and management as well as vocational training.[19] He established educational institutions which teach traditional Sanskrit as well as modern science and technology. The Swami's gurukula houses more than 10,000 children from ages five to sixteen years. The houses are open to children from all religions, castes, and creeds who are provided free food, education, and shelter (Trividha Daasoha).[19][3] Pilgrims and visitors to the mutt also receive free meals.[19] Under the Swami's guidance, an annual agricultural fair was held for the benefit of the local population.

Swami was widely respected for his philanthropic work.[20] The Government of Karnataka announced the institution of Shivakumara Swamiji Prashasti from 2007, the centennial birth anniversary of Swamiji.[20] A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, visited him at Tumkur and praised Swami's humanitarian work and initiatives in education.[20] Like other Lingayats, Swami adhered to a strict vegetarian diet.[21]

Illness and death

Starting in 2016, Swami was repeatedly hospitalised in Bangalore for various infections, also repeatedly recovering fully after treatment. The hospitalizations were reported in area newspapers.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] On 3 January 2019, he was hospitalised again.[30] On 11 January, he was placed on life support as his conditions deteriorated.[31] On 16 January, despite a complete lack of recovery, the Swami was moved back to Siddaganga Matha at his own request.[32] On 21 January, it was reported that he was in a critical condition. He died at 11:44 a.m. local time that day.[33][34] The Government of Karnataka declared a public holiday on 22 January as part of the three-day state mourning period in a mark of respect.[35]

Awards and recognitions

In recognition of his humanitarian work, Karnataka University awarded the Swami an honorary Doctor of Literature in 1965.[36] On his centenary in 2007, the Government of Karnataka awarded Swami the Karnataka Ratna, the highest civilian award of the state.[4] In 2015 the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan.[2]

In 2017, the Government of Karnataka and his followers sought Bharat Ratna for him for his social service.[37][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Who was Shivakumara Swami?". The Indian Express. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bhuvaneshwari, S. (21 January 2019). "Siddaganga Mutt head Shivakumara Swamy passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Shivakumara Swami's 111 years will be remembered as a life dedicated to simplicity, learning and service to society". Firstpost. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Seer turns 110, devotees seek Bharat Ratna". The New Indian Express. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami dies at 111, Karnataka declares 3-day state mourning". India Today. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Sree Siddaganga Mutt". Sreesiddagangamutt.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ "Siddaganga Institute of Technology". Sit.ac.in. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  8. ↑ "A medieval poet bedevils India's most powerful political party". The Economist. 21 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Nadedaduva Devaru, Walking God of Karnataka, Siddaganga Matha seer, passes away at 111". Bangalore Mirror. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Childhood". siddagangamath.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Sri Shivakumara Swami: A proud Veerapura says adieu to its famous son". The New Indian Express. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Prominent Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami dies at 111". Rediff.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Education". siddagangamath.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Shivakumara Swamiji: 'Walking god' who believed in the power of education". The Week. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  15. ↑ Bhuvaneshwari, S. (21 January 2019). "Shivakumara Swami: the 'Walking God' who left no one behind". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Shivanna to Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu". siddagangamath.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  17. ↑ B. R., Rohith (21 January 2019). "Shivakumara Swamiji, 'walking god' of Karnataka, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  18. ↑ Bureau, Karnataka (22 January 2019). "Shivakumara Swami: timeline". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  19. 1 2 3 Bhuvaneshwari, S. (1 April 2015). "108th birthday of Siddaganga mutt Seer celebrated". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  20. 1 2 3 "Kalam hails Siddaganga seer's contribution to society". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 April 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  21. ↑ Hunsal, S. M. (2004). The Lingayat Movement: A Social Revolution in Karnataka (PDF). Basava Samiti. p. 62.
  22. ↑ Staff Correspondent (25 June 2016). "Siddaganga seer returns to Tumakuru". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 January 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  23. ↑ "Siddaganga Mutt seer hospitalised". The Times of India. 12 May 2017.
  24. ↑ "Mutt seer hospitalised in Kengeri". Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  25. ↑ "Siddaganga seer Shivakumara Swami hospitalised, discharged later". The New Indian Express.
  26. ↑ "Siddaganga seer to be shifted to Chennai hospital". The Hindu. 7 December 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  27. ↑ "Siddaganga Mutt seer hospitalised". The Hindu. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "Siddaganga seer undergoes surgery". The Hindu. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  29. ↑ TV, Public (30 December 2018). "ನಡೆದಾಡುವ ದೇವರ ಶ್ವಾಸಕೋಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋಂಕು ಪತ್ತೆ - ಶ್ರೀಗಳ ಆಪ್ತ ವೈದ್ಯರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟನೆ - Public TV News" (in Kannada). Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  30. ↑ "Shivakumara Swami shifted to hospital". Deccan Herald. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Siddaganga seer to stay on ventilator: Dr Manjunath". Deccan Herald. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  32. ↑ Staff Reporter (16 January 2019). "Shivakumara Swami shifted to Siddaganga mutt". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 January 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  33. ↑ "Live updates: Siddaganga seer Shivakumara Swamiji critical, put on ventilator". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  34. ↑ "Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami dies at 111, Karnataka declares 3-day state mourning". India Today. Delhi. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  35. ↑ "Siddaganga Mutt seer death: Karnataka declares holiday tomorrow". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Shivakumara Swami, "Walking God", Dies at 111. Politicians Unite in Grief". NDTV.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "Bharat Ratna sought for Siddaganga seer". The Hindu. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008.
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