Daijiworld Media Network - (DRD/SS)

Vijayapura, Jan 2: Seer of the Sri Jnana Yogashrama here, Sri Siddheshwar Swami breathed his last at 6 PM at the ashram on Monday, January 2.

He was 81. He had been suffering from illness for the past one month.

Swamiji was known as the walking god of the region and also the seer of the century. Swamiji had a large following and was a renowned scholar.

A sea of shocked and dismayed devotees have been flocking the ashram since the time the news of his death is out.

As the seer had desired, he will be cremated and not laid to rest. He had expressed this in a letter as long back as 2014 itself that he would have no rituals of final rites. He had also made it clear that he did not want any memorial to be built in his name. His final wish on his death was immersing his ashes in the sea or river.

Siddeshweara Swamiji's mortal remains will be kept for public viewing till 5 am at the ashram and 3 pm at Sainik School.

The final rites of Swamiji will be held in Vijayapura on Tuesday at 5 pm.

Swamiji had a lot of admirers for his powerful oratory skills. He used to hold month-long discourses in cities and villages. He had earned the love of his devotees in Karnataka and Maharashtra and other states as well. His discourses always drew huge crowds who were highly influenced by his speech.

Born in 1941in Bijjaragi of the district to an artist father, he had studied MA. He dedicated over 67 years of his life to monkhood. He was proficient in Kannada, Marathi, English, Sanskrit and Urdu. He was known for his references to anecdotes from all sacred texts in his speeches. His discourses were predominantly about Kayaka-Dasoha ideology preached by Sri Basaveshwara and other Sharanas.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has condoled his death.

The mortal remains of the seer will be accorded state honours at around 4 pm on Tuesday.