Shivakumara Swamiji was a prominent Lingayat scholar, educator and a spiritual leader. Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Shivakumara Swamigalu on his Jayanti.
Shivakumara Swamigalu was born in the village of Veerapura, Ramanagara District, Karnataka on 1st April, 1907. He was his parent’s thirteenth child and was named Shivanna at birth. His interest in religion began in his childhood when he accompanied his parents to religious centers.
In Nagavalli, Gnanaprakasam began to read the works of Hindu Saint-poets like Tulasidasa, Sambandar and Manickavasagar. After completing his elementary education in the village he was born in, he moved to Nagavalli to complete his middle school.
In 1930, he earned a bachelor’s degree in arts from the Central College in Bangalore. He was proficient in English, Kannada, and Sanskrit. In 1965, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature degree by Karnataka University.
He was a Lingayat religious figure and head of the Siddaganga Matha in Karnataka. He was described as the most esteemed adherent of Lingayatism. He was known as ''Nadedaaduva Devaru'' or the ''Walking God'' among his followers.
He was considered as the incarnation of Basaveshwara, the 12th century social reformer, as he accepted all irrespective of their religion or caste.
The total number of institutions founded by Shivakumara Swamigalu was 132. He founded Sri Siddaganga Education Society. Under the swami’s guidance, an agricultural fair was also held annually to help the local people.
In 2007, he was awarded the Karnataka Ratna (highest civilian award in Karnataka). In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian award in India).
He was almost 112 years old when he passed away on 21st January 2019 as a result of multiple infections.
