Bangalore: Political Leaders, Public Bid Adieu to Adichunchanagiri Math Swamiji
Mandya, Jan 14 (PTI): The mortal remains of Adichunchanagiri seer Balagandharanatha Swami were today laid to rest with full state honours at the Adichunchanagri shrine, the Math headquarters, as thousands of devotees paid their last respects.
A five-member team of priests chanted vedic hymns and the last rites were performed by Nirmalananda Swami, who was named successor to Balgangadharanatha swami.
The body of the 69-year-old swami, who passed away at the BGS hospital yesterday after a brief illness, was taken to Adichunchanagari this evening from Bangalore.
En route to Adichunchanagiri, thousands of devotees lined up to pay their last respects.
State police presented a 21-gun salute as a mark of respect to the spiritual leader for whom the state government declared a state funeral.
A host of political personalities including Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, KJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, BJP leader Ananth Kumar, Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, former Union Minister S M Krishna, State JDS President H D Kumaraswamy and Opposition Leader in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah were present when the body was laid to rest.
Bangalore Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras too paid his last respects to the departed soul.
Balagangadhara Swami made his mark initially with religious pursuits but later founded institutions of excellence in education and medical facilities besides undertaking development work and philanthropy.