The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Seer is a source of inspiration'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Seer is a source of inspiration'

Staff Correspondent

Advani inaugurates platinum jubilee celebrations and `yatri nivas' for pilgrims

The faithful: A section of the crowd at a function held near Tumkur on Monday to mark the platinum jubilee of Shivakumara Swamiji's initiation into the holy order.

TUMKUR: The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani; the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah; and the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, K.H. Muniyappa, were among the Ministers, MPs, and MLAs who paid rich tributes to Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Sri Siddaganga Mutt at a function on the mutt premises here to mark the platinum jubilee of his initiation into the holy order.

Mr. Advani, who inaugurated the jubilee celebrations and a yatri nivas built by the State Government, said Karnataka has 6,000 mutts and each of them is striving for the good of society, besides performing religious duties. ``I am told that Sri Shivakumara Swamiji is the guiding spirit behind this great mission. Though I knew much about the swamiji, I am meeting him for the first time and my happiness has no bounds. I am convinced that he inspires every person,'' Mr. Advani added.

Mr. Advani said the swamiji has been striving to educate people to become good citizens. His work is laudable. He praised the State Government for building a facility for pilgrims.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the swamiji is waging a battle against ignorance. "I have seen him speaking at public meetings against exploitation of the poor and the ignorant. The swamiji preaches what he has been practising in the mutt since 1930. Hence, his words carry weight,'' he added.

"The swamiji knows that peace, amity, and happiness in society can be realised only through kayaka (work) by all and dasoha (equal distribution of its fruits among all). He has not only implemented kayaka and dasoha in his mutt, but also inspired several mutts to follow suit,'' Mr. Siddaramaiah said. Mr. Muniyappa said the swamiji favours Kolar district for extending help because of its backwardness. Many poor students from the district are given shelter in the mutt. He has built a number of choultries in the district. V. Somanna, MLA, said the works of the swamiji, which are in Kannada and English, will be translated into 14 languages. A school for the visually challenged will be set up at Veerapura, the birthplace of the swamiji.

H.N. Ananth Kumar, MP; H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies; S. Mallikarjunaiah, Tumkur MP; B.S. Patil, former Chief Secretary; D.T. Jayakumar, Iqbal Ansari, Amaregouda Bayyapur, C. Channigappa and N. Cheluvaraya Swamy, Ministers; B.S. Yediyurappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; D.H. Shankaramurthy, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council; Jagadish Shettar, State BJP President; C.M. Ibrahim and Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, former Union Ministers; and B.K. Chandrashekar, former Minister, lauded the swamiji for his contribution to society. Govindaraj, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat, welcomed. K.M. Chandrashekar, Principal of Siddaganga Polytechnic, proposed a vote of thanks.

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