HASSAN:
Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami, head of the renowned Jain Mutt at Shravanabelagola in this district, a popular Jain pilgrimage centre, is no more. The 73-year-old seer, who was honoured with the title ”Karma Yogi” by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during her visit to the Mutt in 1981, was not keeping well in the past couple of months, sources said.
Born on May 3, 1949 at Varanga village in Udupi district as Ratnavarma, he became a Monk in 1969 and was appointed as the head of the Mutt in 1970. As the head of the Mutt, he performed ‘Mahamastakabhisheka’, grand anointment of the 57-foot tall Gomateshwara statue, — held once in 12 years — in 1981, 1993, 2006 and 2018.
ಅವರ ಅಪಾರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಈ ನೋವನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಭಗವಂತ ನೀಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) March 23, 2023
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The pontiff, an M.A. in History (Mysore University) and an M.A. in Philosophy (Bangalore University), who has devotees in India and abroad, collapsed during his morning walk and was rushed to. Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences at Bellur Cross, where he was declared dead. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and BJP Karnataka unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel have condoled the demise. PTI
