Shivakumara Swamiji headed the Sree Siddaganga Education Society which runs about 125 educational institutions in Karnataka, including engineering colleges and business schools. Many of the institutions offer free education and boarding facilities to poor students.
Karnataka leaders have urged the Union government to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, on the seer for his philanthropic work
Political leaders, cutting across the party lines, paid homage to the 111-year-old Lingayat seer from Karnataka.
Cremation on Tuesday; CM HD Kumaraswamy had last week demanded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, for the seer as recognition of his service to the society
The PM began with praise for Lingayat seers reminding the gathering of the visit he made after becoming the Prime Minister of India in 2014.
