CM remembers Sri Siddaramanand Puri Swami for his spirituality, secularism

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah honors the late Sri Siddaramanand Puri Swami for his contributions to spirituality and secular education.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday recalled the services of the late Sri Siddaramanand Puri Swami, Peethadhipathi of Kanaka Gurupeetha (Kalaburagi division), at Tinthini Bridge in Deodurg taluk of Raichur district in developing the Peetha educationally and spiritually with secularism as its basis.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering at a tribute function got up for the late swamiji at Tinthini Bridge.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who couldn’t attend the funeral of the swamiji as he was unwell, said that the Kanaka Gurupeetha Kalaburagi division, which was headed by Sri Siddaramanand Puri Swami, will spread secularism and also extend service in the education sector with spiritual principles.

He spoke of the history behind the establishment of the Kanaka Gurupeetha for the Kalyan Karnataka region and said that Sri Siddaramanand Puri was made the swamiji, among others in the Bengaluru, Mysuru and Bombay Karnataka regions, in 1992.

“I have visited Kanaka Gurupeetha four times, even after becoming Chief Minister, and I heard that the late swamiji developed the Peetha with the prime concept of secularism, though it was meant for Kurubas and named Kanaka Gurupeetha,” he said.

The Chief Minister recalled the Vachanas of Basaveshwara and Kanakadasa, the guidance of the Buddha, and also the opinion of noted secularist Ram Manohar Lohia about a casteless society and said that despite a strong appeal by these social reformers, caste system is still alive in society.