The pontiff of Sravanabelagola Jain Mutt Swastisri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swami died at a hospital on Thursday morning, sources in the Mutt said.
The 73-year-old seer was taking a stroll in the mutt when he collapsed. Immediately, his disciples rushed him to the hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.
Bhattaraka Swamiji headed the renowned Sravanabelagola Jain Mutt, which is famous for the 57 feet tall statue of Bhagawan Bahubali, also referred to as Gomateshwara, which was built on a hill in 981 AD.
The seer was born on May 3, 1949 at Varang in Karnataka as Ratnavarma.
The pontiff has done masters degree in History from Mysore University and MA in Philosophy from Bangalore University. Bhattaraka Swamiji became a Monk on December 12, 1969 and became the Dharmacharya of Sravanabelagola Mutt on April 19, 1970.
Mourning his demise, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in a tweet said he was deeply pained to learn about the death of 'Karmayogi' Swastisri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji. "His death has caused an irreparable loss to the state. May his soul attain peace," he tweeted.