Siddheshwar Swami's last rites performed with full state honours, lakhs pay final tributes
Vijayapura (K'taka), Jan 2: The mortal remains of Siddeshwar Swami, the seer of the Jnanayogashrama here, who was known for his scholarly discourses and powerful oratory, was consigned to flames with full state honours on Tuesday, after lakhs of people paid last respects to the spiritual leader.
The 82-year old seer was suffering from age-related ailments for some time, and had breathed his last on Monday evening.
Lakhs of people thronged this district headquarter town from various parts of the state, some also from neighbouring states to pay their last respects to seer, whom they regarded as "Nadedaduva Devaru" (walking god).
Many even bid tearful adieu to their beloved "Siddeshwara Appavru". The seer has devotees and followers spread across Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states as well.
His final rites were performed at the Jnanayogashrama as per his wishes which he had recorded on 'Guru Purnima' day of 2014, in the form of a will titled "Antima Abhivadana Patra".
Signed by two district judges as witnesses, it said, his mortal remains are to be offered to the flames and not be buried, no religious rituals are to be conducted and his ashes are to be scattered in a river or sea, and no monument or building is to be erected in his memory.
Being soft-spoken and having a simple appearance, Swamiji was "very unassuming".
Before the last rites at the ashram, Swamiji's body draped in the tricolour was accorded full state honours by the Karnataka government and the police, at the Sainik School premises here.
Early this morning his mortal remains were brought from the ashram to the Sainik School premises, where lakhs of people, also a number of political leaders, religious leaders and prominent personalities from the literary to film field paid their respects.
The body was once again brought back to the ashram for the last rites to be performed in the evening, in a procession, with a large number of people either following it or lining up on the sides of the route with 'aartis' in their hands to say last goodbye to their "Guru", and raising slogans "Siddeshwar Maharaj ki jai."
The Vijayapura district administration and police had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth passage of all the proceedings of the day, culminating at the funeral, and for lakhs of people to pay last respects to the seer.
Living up to 'Dasoha' (commensality) tradition followed by the Siddeshwar Swami, district administration, ashram, various organisations, businesses and civilians of Vijayapura had arranged food for the seer's followers and devotees who had come from distant places, in various parts of the town.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, Congress Campaign Committee chief M B Patil, several of Bommai's cabinet colleagues, legislators from across parties attended the last rites at the ashram.
Several senior pontiffs or Swamijis of various prominent maths from across the state were in attendance, as the seer's mortal remains were consigned to flames, amid chanting of hymns.
Known for simple living, the seer who always was seen wearing white jubba with no pockets and dhoti, stayed away from awards and felicitations. According to ashram sources, he had even refused Padma awards.
He never discriminated between any religion, caste or gender, and had no political strings attached to him, they added.
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Man suspected to have contracted GBS dies in Maharashtra; cases top 100 in Pune
Pune (PTI): A man suspected to have contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has died in Maharashtra's Solapur district, while the number of cases of the immunological nerve disorder in Pune has crossed 100, health officials said on Monday.
This is possibly the first death in Maharashtra suspected to have been caused by the GBS.
The man, native of Solapur, had come to Pune, where he is suspected to have contracted the disease.
He died in Solapur, an official said without giving more details.
"The total number of GBS cases in Pune on Sunday increased to 101, comprising 68 males and 33 females. Of these, 16 patients are on ventilator support. One suspected death has been reported in Solapur," the state health department official said.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and the Pune Municipal Corporation's health department continued surveillance in the affected Sinhgad Road areas here.
A total of 25,578 houses have been surveyed so far, including 15,761 in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits, 3,719 in Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits, and 6,098 houses in the district's rural areas, the official said.
GBS is a rare condition that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness, with symptoms including severe weakness in the limbs, loose motions etc.
Bacterial and viral infections generally lead to GBS as they weaken the immunity of patients, according to doctors.
While GBS is prevalent in both paediatric and young-age groups, it will not lead to an epidemic or pandemic, they said, adding that most patients recover fully with treatment.
The state health department set up the Rapid Response Team to investigate the sudden rise in this infection after 24 suspected cases were found initially.
