In another eleven days, Dr Sri Shivakumar Swamiji will celebrate his hundred and first birthday. The chief pontiff of the Siddaganga mutt has embodied the true essence of the teachings of another great man from the twelveth century and lived them in the twentieth and twenty first century and is also known as a ‘Living God’ among his followers. On 1 April, all his devotees will celebrate swamiji’s 101st year on earth. The near divine being has always led by example be it his attitude towards work or towards social welfare programmes.

He was been bestowed with many honours including the Karnataka Ratna award but his greatest achievement is love that the people have for him. And for a good reason too, because if this elderly man finds out that a child is unhappy because he hasn’t had a meal, he rushes without so much as a walking stick. He becomes emotional to find out that a child has not had a meal because the kitchen fire lit by the  Shivayogis is never extinguished.
His first priority has always been that no child should go hungry and ensures that that kid is given a meal.There have also been times when children who join the dasoha are very young to join a group. Given that fact that the Seer strives to ensure that no child goes hungry or without education and shelter  all the nine thousand children who live in the mutt are taken care off like they are at home.

Swamiji’s discipline is legendary. He wakes every morning at 3. 30 to meditate and his mental faculties would put a young man to shame. He also likes to keep up with all that is happening around him and between 5.30 to 7 am, reads all Kannada newspapers available.

He always has a piece of advice for those who join journalism to maintain the integrity of the profession. But he does not need a pair of spectacles and even avoids a walking stick. One has to really see the energy of thi s 101 year-old man.

Even to this day the seer does not eat at night without ensuring that every child has eaten.

On Karnataka Ratna
When Karnataka Ratna was conferred upon him the seer, speaking informally to Deccan Herald he had  said, “It was against the principles of those who followed Buddha and Basava to accept any awards. However, for the satisfaction of the devotees and not to show disrespect to the government I accepted Karnataka Ratna award.”
The 101-year-old seer is young at heart and works relentlessly even to this day. “Rest doesn’t mean lying in bed for hours; nor to chat throughout the day; rest means only change of work,” he often said. However it was evident in his speech that he rued the degenerating cultural values.

He was concerned about imparting values among the young generation, as he believed they otherwise would involve in anti-social activities. The onus of teaching students values is on mutts and schools, he often said.

‘Learn from Chanakya’
The seer also expressed his unhappiness over the waste of fuel and money by the government. He rued the lack of commitment among the politicians. He said, ‘ideal politics should be learnt from Chanakya who resided in an ordinary house and slept on a carpet.’

The seer himself acts as he speaks, thereby proving a good model to people of all ages and all sections.