''Walking God'' Shivakumara Swami dies at 111

Bengaluru, January 21

Prominent Lingayat seer of Tumakuru-based Siddaganga Math, 111-year-old Shivakumara Swamiji, who was known as the 'Walking God', died on Monday after a prolonged illness, the seminary announced.

"The seer left for the heavenly abode leaving his mortal body at 11.44 am," announced the Siddaganga Education Society founded by the seer.

According to the math website, the highly revered swamiji was born on April 1, 1908 in Veerapura village in Karnataka.

The website of Sree Siddaganga College of Education, founded by him, mentions his date of birth as April 1, 1907.

"I am deeply saddened to announce that the walking God, Parama Poojya Siddaganga Sri, has passed away. It is an irreparable loss to the state. His contribution to the society transformed lakhs of people from across the state.

He shaped the future of many people," Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters in Tumakuru, where the seer passed away.

Kumaraswamy announced a government holiday on Tuesday and state mourning for three days.

A recipient of Padma Bhushan and Karnataka Ratna awards, the seer was in a serious condition for the past two months and had undergone a surgery at a private hospital in Chennai about two months ago for his liver related complications.

The swamiji showed signs of improvement but his condition suddenly deteriorated in the past few days.

Cutting short their engagements of the day,  Kumaraswamy, Congress leader Siddaramaiah and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and other senior politicians of the state reached Tumakuru on getting information that he was critical. PTI