Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga mutt in Tumakuru district passed away on Monday. 111-year-old Sri Shivakumara Swamiji was among the most prominent religious leaders of the Lingayat community. He died on Monday after battling lung infection for days. Fondly referred to as the 'walking god', Swamiji was on ventilator support.
"Siddaganga Math seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji passed away at 11.44 am on Monday. The cremation will be done on 22 January at 4.30 pm," Mourning his death, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said, confirming the Swamiji's death on Monday. A three-day mourning period has been declared in Karnataka.
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Kumaraswamy, Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar, BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, M.B. Patil, K.J. George and Sadananda Gowda among the prominent leaders had visited the mutt on Monday to pay their respects.
Security has been beefed up outside the Siddaganga mutt in Tumakuru. Shivakumara Swamiji was undergoing treatment after he developed a lung infection after a liver bypass last month. Shivakumara Swamiji had a significant influence in Karnataka politics.
Last year, right before the Karnataka assembly elections, the state government had recognised Lingayats as a separate religious identity, different from Hinduism.