The head pontiff of the five-centuries-old Siddaganga Mutt in Karnataka's Tumakuru district, Dr Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swami, had passed away on Monday. He was popularly known as "Nadedaduva Devaru", meaning the "Walking God" in Kannada.
Born in 1907, the 111-year old Lingayat seer was suffering from lung infection and hospitalised in December 2018. He was later shifted back to the mutt, but his condition worsened and was later put into the ventilator.
The seer will be laid to rest at 4.30 pm on Tuesday.
Siddaganga seer had established nearly 123 educational institutions in the state which accommodates nearly 9,000 students. The students are provided with free education and all their needs are being taken care of by the Siddaganga mutt educational trust.
All politicians in Karnataka have cancelled their official engagements and are headed to Tumakuru to take part in the final rites of the seer.
The Karnataka government has declared a three-day mourning.
Public viewing time extended till 4 pmPublic viewing time has been extended till 4 pm as devotees keep flowing to the mutt.
Final rites to be done between 5 pm and 7 pmFinal rites of the seer will be done between 5 pm and 7 pm.
More than 10 lakh devotees pays their respect at the muttMore than ten lakh devotees visited the mutt to pay their respect towards the deceased seer.
There is a long serpentine queue at the mutt, where people are still waiting to have a final glance at the spiritual leader's mortal remains.
PM Modi remembers the Siddaganga mutt seerPrime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Dr Shivakumara Swami. He said that he had met the seer on several occasions and the Siddagangaseer seer always treated him like a son.
Ministers and police officials inspect the burial spotDeputy Chief minister G Parameshwara and Home minister MB Patil with a team of police officials inspected the burial spot.
The public can pay their final tributes till 3 pm.The public can pay their final tributes till 3 pm.
A long line of devotees has shown up in Tumakuru to pay their final homage.
Additional helipads are being set up in the districtThree additional helipads are being made in Tumakuru for the arrival of VIPs.
More than ten helipads were already set up in the districts Industrial Area and College Grounds yesterday.
Nirmala Sitharaman to visit TumakuruDefence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to visit Tumakuru to pay her final respects to the Siddaganga seer on behalf of the Central government.
The seer applying 'Vibhuti' or sacred ash, while on ventilator at Siddaganga Hospital111 year old ‘The Walking God' Siddaganga Seer #ShivakumaraSwamiji passes away ???
— Nellutla Kavitha (@iamKavithaRao) January 21, 2019
(WA forward video - When Swamiji was in Siddaganga Hospital, Tumkur - On ventilator applying Vebhuthi on forehead)? pic.twitter.com/wABdXHNJ6i
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not visit Tumakuru to pay his final homage to the seer
Siddaganga Mutt provides breakfast for the devoteesThe Siddaganga Mutt has provided free breakfast for all the devotees.
Hotels in Tumakuru provides free foodMany hotels in Tumakuru provides free food to the devotees, who have gathered in the district to pay their final respects to the deceased Siddaganga seer.
Final rites to be conducted at the 'Rudrakshi mantap'The final rites of the seer will be conducted at the 'Rudrakshi mantap' in the Siddaganga Mutt at 4.30 pm.
Union minister Ramesh Jigajinagi pays his respectsUnion minister Ramesh Jigajinagi pays his respects to the seer in Tumakuru.
The minister said that it will be wrong if the Siddaganga seer is not conferred with Bharat Ratna. He said that he will ask for the central governments help in the matter.
Siddalinga Mahaswami will become the next head of the Linagayat muttShivakumara Swami's protege Siddalinga Mahaswami will succeed as the new head of the Siddaganga Mutt.
The 55-year old Siddalinga Swami had taken over as the president of one of the richest mutt in Karnataka and its 125 educational institutions over the past few years, owing to the ill health of the now deceased seer.
