Sri Siddheshwar Swami (1941-2023) was an Indian spiritual leader. He was a senior Lingayat pontiff and seer of Sri Jnanayogashrama of Vijayapura, an ashram in Bijapur, Karnataka, who died on January 2, 2023 following a prolonged illness.
Wiki/Biography
Sri Siddheshwar Swami was born on Friday, 24 October 1941 (age 81 years; at time of death) at Bijjaragi, Vijayapur district, Karnataka. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He was studying in Class 4 in a local school in his native village when he met the spiritual leader Sri Mallikarjuna Swamiji, who immediately realized the spiritual soul of Siddheshwar. After that, Mallikarjuna started taking Siddheshwar to places where he would preach.
Sri Siddheshwar Swami in his youth
However, he made sure that Siddheshwar’s formal education continued in tandem. He pursued his studies from Karnataka University. Later, he obtained his MA in Philosophy from Kolhapur University, Maharashtra.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Color: Salt & Pepper
Eye Color: Black
Family
He was born in an ordinary peasant family. His father’s name is Ogeppagouda Siddhagonda Patil, and his mother’s name is Sangamma Ogeppagouda Patil.
Parents of Sri Siddheshwar Swami
Religion/Religious Views
Swamiji got his spiritual calling at the age of just 14 after which he became a disciple of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamiji.
Sri Mallikarjuna Swamiji (left) holding Sri Siddheshwar Swami’s hand
He founded the Jnanayogashrama in Vijayapura, Karnataka. He preached Jnana yoga (also known as jnana marga), which is one of the three classical paths to moksha or liberation. The other two are karma yoga (the path of action) and bhakti yoga (the path of loving devotion to a personal god). Yoga Jnana is a spiritual practice that seeks knowledge with questions such as “who am I, what am I” among others. His lectures presented the ideologies presented by Sri Basaveshwara and other Sharanas, the three Acharyas of Indian philosophy, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sufism.
Signature/Autograph
Signature of Sri Siddheshwar Swami
Death
On January 2, 2023, Sri Siddheshwar Swami passed away at 6.05 pm following a prolonged illness due to age-related ailments. His last rites were performed in the Ashram premises as per his wishes which he had recorded on ‘Guru Purnima’ day 2014. According to the official notification, the Karnataka government decided to give Swamiji a state burial. Earlier, he suffered several broken bones after falling at a house of worship but fully recovered. Before his death, he was confined to a wheelchair for several weeks, and he received no treatment. He only took painkillers. His body was kept at the ashram for the public to pay their last respects until 4:30 am on January 3, 2022, after which it was moved to the premises of the Sainik School for his devotees to pay their respects. Later, his body was brought back to the ashram to perform his last rites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his last respects through a tweet.
Paramapujya Sri Siddheshwara Swami Ji will be remembered for his outstanding service to the community. He worked tirelessly for the good of others and was also respected for his scholarly spirit. In this time of sorrow, my thoughts are with his countless devotees. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/DbWtdvROl1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 2, 2023
Facts/Trivia
- He gave pravachan (religious discourses) in Kannada, English, Marathi, Hindi, and Sanskrit.
- Swamiji has written several books on Upanishads, Gita, Sharana philosophy and general spirituality. After completing his studies at the age of 19, Sri Siddheshwar Swami wrote the book “Siddantha Shiromani” under the guidance of Sri Mallikarjun Swamiji. Some of his major works are God, World and Soul: Reflections on Saintly Sayings (Vachanas) (2021), Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (2020), Kathamrutha (2019), Tales told by Sri Siddheshwara Swamiji (2014), Anandayoga (2009), and Vachana Nirvachana’ (1997) by Allamaprabhu.
- He is often referred to as ‘Nadedado Narayan’ (Walking God of North Karnataka) and is called Buddiji.
- In 2018, Siddheshwar Swamiji from Vijaypur wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi refusing to accept the Padma Shri award conferred on him. The letter read,
I don’t need a title, I am a sanyasi.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
