Dr. Sree Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji (Kannada: ಡಾ. ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ) (born April 1, 1907) is the present head of Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur District, South India and founder of the Sree Siddaganga Education Society. He was initiated into viraktashram order in 1930. Swamiji was born in Veerapura near Magadi Taluk. He studied English in college and is proficient in Kannada and Sanskrit. He has established educational institutions which offer a courses in traditional learning of Sanskrit as well as modern science and technology. He is widely respected for his philanthropic work by all communities. In recognition of his humanitarian work, Sree Swamiji was conferred with an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature by Karnatak University in 1965. He continues his humanitarian work in spite of his advanced age of 104.
Sree Swamiji's Guru Kula houses more than 8500 children of age group 5 to 16 years and is open to children from all religions, castes and creeds, who are provided free food, education and shelter. Under the pontiff's guidance, annual agricultural fair is held for the benefit of the local population.Karnataka state government has announced to institute Shivakumara Swamiji Prashasti from the year 2007, the centennial year of the Swamiji. Dr.A.P.J Kalam, the former President of India has visited him at Tumkur and has praised the initiatives of Swamiji in education and humanitarian work.
On his centenary in 2007, Dr. Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji the Government of Karnataka awarded him the prestigious Karnataka Ratna award, the highest civilian award of the state.
Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math has no faith in any religion other than the religion of humanity. He has opened the doors of knowledge to the poor and the oppressed, and provided them with food and shelter. Chethana Dinesh meets the towering personality who dreams of a world where peace reigns unopposed.
“Buddhi, a high-ranking government officer wants to meet you,” whispers a man in Swamiji’s ears. “Buddhi, we’ll be greatly honoured if you visit our college today,” pleads a bunch of blue-coat clad college lads. “Buddhi, what shall we prepare for prasada today?” the cook wants to know. “Buddhi, a group of people from Jewargi are waiting to seek your blessings,” announces another man. The Swamiji, affectionately addressed as ‘Buddhi’ by people at the math, lifts his head slowly from behind the huge pile of files he is examining and answers them all patiently - “Seat the officer in the room. Alright, I’ll come. I hope you’re all studying well. Prepare anything of your choice. Let the people from Jewargi in because they still have a long journey back home.”
This is just two minutes in the day of Dr Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math. Even a few hours with the Swamiji is enough to acquaint us to the 18-hour work schedule of this 99-year-old whose passion for relentless service to humanity can put even a hi-flying professional to shame.
The Swamiji’s journey on the path of service started as early as 1930 when Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, the then pontiff of the math, initiated him into the viraktashram order. This choice of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi came as a pleasant surprise to Shivanna (as he was then called), who was still pursuing his third year degree course in the Central College, Bangalore. Not the one to be deterred by his special status, the Swamiji vowed to lead the math in the path of progress. And succeeded too. Today the math boasts of 128 educational institutions, offers free food, accommodation and education to over 8,500 students irrespective of their caste, community or religion, apart from the other developmental works it engages itself in.
But the long journey to sweet success hasn’t been an easy one and the humble 99-year-old doesn’t admit it too. “Daiveche (God’s will),” is all that he has to say. Prod him a little and he says, “I just carried forward the work initiated by my respectable gurus.”
By ‘Gurus’, he means Adavi Swami, the predecessor of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, who started the practice of ‘dasoha’ or free feeding in the math at a time when the math had very little or no resources to boast of. Then followed Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, who not only continued the dasoha programme but also started a Sanskrit College way back in 1917, and kept its doors open to students of all communities and religions. That too at a time when even hearing, let alone uttering, Sanskrit words by the members of lower castes was considered a crime.
With such illustrious Gurus as his predecessors, Sri Shivakumara Swamiji says he knew exactly what to do and did not rest till he achieved what he set out to. “Not that he rests now,” says Mr Renukaradhya, a person who spends most of his time with the Swamiji. “Why should I?” the Swamiji seems to ask, as he says, “Kayakave Kailasa (Work is worship),” one of the philosophies of Sri Basavanna, renowned religious and social reformer of the 12th century. Yes, the Swamiji not only preaches Basavanna’s philosophy but also practices them religiously.
Way back in 1930, it did not take long for the Swamiji to realise the magnitude of responsibility that rested on his frail shoulders. So, off he went, on foot to the various villages around Kyathasandra, where the math is situated, to collect donations. Be it vegetables, pulses or cereals, the farmers gave him willingly and the Swamiji accepted gladly, to feed hundreds of hungry souls who, deprived of even one square meal a day at their homes, had taken shelter in the math. This donation of farmers, which started thus, continues to this day. The only difference being the farmers willingly visit the math with their donations and offer it to the Swamiji. “The first harvest is always reserved for the math,” says Mr Renukaradhya.
Feeding over 10,000 people comprising students, devotees and visitors to the math, thrice a day, is no mean achievement. According to members of the math, the monthly expenditure of running the math is close to Rs 30 lakh, met mainly by generous donations from the public. What about the government? “Well, government aid comes in the form of partial financial support in the maintenance of a few destitute children,” say sources in the math.
The practice of dasoha in the math has gained so much of popularity that many, including former president Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, admit there is no other institute in the whole of India that is into service to humanity of this magnitude. Regular visitors to the math even wonder if Siddaganga Math is an ‘Akshaya Patre’ and the fire lit in the math kitchen is ever extinguished.
The idealist and humanitarian Swamiji is quite particular that nobody visiting the math should leave without having food. His parting words to people, at any time of the day, is - “Take the prasada before you go.” Be it a minister of the Cabinet rank or a poor farmer, they have to partake of the same prasada as the math stresses on social equality.
An otherwise gentle Swamiji, a devout and an ardent disciple of Basavanna, gets all fired up when talking about discrimination of every kind dogging the society. “This nation will not progress unless this meaningless caste system is abolished. Fighting in the name of religion is another social evil. When will it all end?” he asks, a question for which there are no answers.
But the Swamiji, who has no faith in any religion other than the religion of humanity, has been contributing in his own way for the eradication of social evils like discrimination on the basis of caste and the practice of untouchability by taking needy students, irrespective of their caste, community and religion, under his protective care.
When the Swamiji assumed the leadership of the math in 1941, after the demise of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, there were only about 200 students in the math. The ceaseless and untiring efforts of the Swamiji has seen the growth of the math which now has over 8,500 students under its wings.
One of Swamiji’s fondest dreams is to establish a caste-free society, which was also the dream of Basavanna. The result? There are over 500 Vokkaligas, 69 Muslims, 8 Christians and over 2000 students belonging to the backward communities.
“The only prerequisite for joining the math is the willingness to study,” say volunteers at the math who also say the Swamiji never denies any needy student an admission in the math.
For more.... Click Here
Sree Swamiji's Guru Kula houses more than 8500 children of age group 5 to 16 years and is open to children from all religions, castes and creeds, who are provided free food, education and shelter. Under the pontiff's guidance, annual agricultural fair is held for the benefit of the local population.Karnataka state government has announced to institute Shivakumara Swamiji Prashasti from the year 2007, the centennial year of the Swamiji. Dr.A.P.J Kalam, the former President of India has visited him at Tumkur and has praised the initiatives of Swamiji in education and humanitarian work.
On his centenary in 2007, Dr. Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji the Government of Karnataka awarded him the prestigious Karnataka Ratna award, the highest civilian award of the state.
Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math has no faith in any religion other than the religion of humanity. He has opened the doors of knowledge to the poor and the oppressed, and provided them with food and shelter. Chethana Dinesh meets the towering personality who dreams of a world where peace reigns unopposed.
“Buddhi, a high-ranking government officer wants to meet you,” whispers a man in Swamiji’s ears. “Buddhi, we’ll be greatly honoured if you visit our college today,” pleads a bunch of blue-coat clad college lads. “Buddhi, what shall we prepare for prasada today?” the cook wants to know. “Buddhi, a group of people from Jewargi are waiting to seek your blessings,” announces another man. The Swamiji, affectionately addressed as ‘Buddhi’ by people at the math, lifts his head slowly from behind the huge pile of files he is examining and answers them all patiently - “Seat the officer in the room. Alright, I’ll come. I hope you’re all studying well. Prepare anything of your choice. Let the people from Jewargi in because they still have a long journey back home.”
This is just two minutes in the day of Dr Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math. Even a few hours with the Swamiji is enough to acquaint us to the 18-hour work schedule of this 99-year-old whose passion for relentless service to humanity can put even a hi-flying professional to shame.
The Swamiji’s journey on the path of service started as early as 1930 when Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, the then pontiff of the math, initiated him into the viraktashram order. This choice of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi came as a pleasant surprise to Shivanna (as he was then called), who was still pursuing his third year degree course in the Central College, Bangalore. Not the one to be deterred by his special status, the Swamiji vowed to lead the math in the path of progress. And succeeded too. Today the math boasts of 128 educational institutions, offers free food, accommodation and education to over 8,500 students irrespective of their caste, community or religion, apart from the other developmental works it engages itself in.
But the long journey to sweet success hasn’t been an easy one and the humble 99-year-old doesn’t admit it too. “Daiveche (God’s will),” is all that he has to say. Prod him a little and he says, “I just carried forward the work initiated by my respectable gurus.”
By ‘Gurus’, he means Adavi Swami, the predecessor of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, who started the practice of ‘dasoha’ or free feeding in the math at a time when the math had very little or no resources to boast of. Then followed Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, who not only continued the dasoha programme but also started a Sanskrit College way back in 1917, and kept its doors open to students of all communities and religions. That too at a time when even hearing, let alone uttering, Sanskrit words by the members of lower castes was considered a crime.
With such illustrious Gurus as his predecessors, Sri Shivakumara Swamiji says he knew exactly what to do and did not rest till he achieved what he set out to. “Not that he rests now,” says Mr Renukaradhya, a person who spends most of his time with the Swamiji. “Why should I?” the Swamiji seems to ask, as he says, “Kayakave Kailasa (Work is worship),” one of the philosophies of Sri Basavanna, renowned religious and social reformer of the 12th century. Yes, the Swamiji not only preaches Basavanna’s philosophy but also practices them religiously.
Way back in 1930, it did not take long for the Swamiji to realise the magnitude of responsibility that rested on his frail shoulders. So, off he went, on foot to the various villages around Kyathasandra, where the math is situated, to collect donations. Be it vegetables, pulses or cereals, the farmers gave him willingly and the Swamiji accepted gladly, to feed hundreds of hungry souls who, deprived of even one square meal a day at their homes, had taken shelter in the math. This donation of farmers, which started thus, continues to this day. The only difference being the farmers willingly visit the math with their donations and offer it to the Swamiji. “The first harvest is always reserved for the math,” says Mr Renukaradhya.
Feeding over 10,000 people comprising students, devotees and visitors to the math, thrice a day, is no mean achievement. According to members of the math, the monthly expenditure of running the math is close to Rs 30 lakh, met mainly by generous donations from the public. What about the government? “Well, government aid comes in the form of partial financial support in the maintenance of a few destitute children,” say sources in the math.
The practice of dasoha in the math has gained so much of popularity that many, including former president Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, admit there is no other institute in the whole of India that is into service to humanity of this magnitude. Regular visitors to the math even wonder if Siddaganga Math is an ‘Akshaya Patre’ and the fire lit in the math kitchen is ever extinguished.
The idealist and humanitarian Swamiji is quite particular that nobody visiting the math should leave without having food. His parting words to people, at any time of the day, is - “Take the prasada before you go.” Be it a minister of the Cabinet rank or a poor farmer, they have to partake of the same prasada as the math stresses on social equality.
An otherwise gentle Swamiji, a devout and an ardent disciple of Basavanna, gets all fired up when talking about discrimination of every kind dogging the society. “This nation will not progress unless this meaningless caste system is abolished. Fighting in the name of religion is another social evil. When will it all end?” he asks, a question for which there are no answers.
But the Swamiji, who has no faith in any religion other than the religion of humanity, has been contributing in his own way for the eradication of social evils like discrimination on the basis of caste and the practice of untouchability by taking needy students, irrespective of their caste, community and religion, under his protective care.
When the Swamiji assumed the leadership of the math in 1941, after the demise of Sri Uddhana Shivayogi, there were only about 200 students in the math. The ceaseless and untiring efforts of the Swamiji has seen the growth of the math which now has over 8,500 students under its wings.
One of Swamiji’s fondest dreams is to establish a caste-free society, which was also the dream of Basavanna. The result? There are over 500 Vokkaligas, 69 Muslims, 8 Christians and over 2000 students belonging to the backward communities.
“The only prerequisite for joining the math is the willingness to study,” say volunteers at the math who also say the Swamiji never denies any needy student an admission in the math.
For more.... Click Here
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