The 111-year-old pontiff of the Siddaganga Math had undergone a liver bypass surgery in December.
Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamigalu, one of Karnataka's most revered religious figures, is in a critical condition and has been placed on ventilator support. The 111-year-old head pontiff of the widely respected Siddaganga Math had undergone liver bypass surgery in December and had shown considerable recovery despite his age.
Shivakumara Swamigalu, often claimed to be the oldest living Indian, is the most respected pontiff in the Lingayat community, which forms an estimated 20 percent of Karnataka's population and has a significant concentration in southern Karnataka. He is referred to as a 'nadedaduva devaru', which is Kannada for 'the walking god'. He is respected even outside of the Lingayat community for his decades of public service, especially for his role in the establishment of a number of educational institutions across the state.
News of him being in a critical condition has dominated news in Karnataka, and leaders - political and non-political - are heading to Tumakuru, where the Siddaganga Math is located. The pontiffs of a number of maths have assembled at the Siddaganga Math, and are reciting the Mrityunjaya mantra of the Rig Veda, which is associated with conquering death, outside his room, Deccan Herald reported.
Shivakumara Swamigalu had undergone a liver transplant at a hospital in Chennai in early December, when he had been diagnosed with a liver and bile duct infection. He had also developed a lung infection in the post-operative period. He had been brought back to Tumakuru, about 60 km northwest of Bengaluru, on January 16.
A number of top leaders in the state have called off their programmes to head to Tumakuru. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara was among those who visited the hospital on Monday morning. "He is looking slightly better now. We have also approached doctors from BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals for better treatment. We are trying hard to make everything alright. Devotees should stay patient," he said, according to news agency ANI.
The state government has also appealed to followers and well-wishers not to rush to Tumakuru for the time being.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is reported to be headed to Tumakuru to visit the seer. BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, himself a Lingayat, is also reported to have cancelled all his programmes to rush to Tumakuru.
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 "Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamigalu is among the most revered figures among Karnataka's Lingayats.")
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