<p>Mysuru: Pontiff of Salur Bruhan Mutt Pattada Guru Swami (69), Male Mahadeshwara Betta (MM Hills), Hanur taluk, died on Tuesday morning.</p><p>The 17th pontiff of the Mutt, in the popular religious pilgrimage centre of MM Hills, was unwell over the past one week. He was suffering from age-related ailments for the past four years.</p><p>Born on August 2, 1956, as the eldest son of Rudrappa and Putta Madamma couple of GK (Gangadharana Katte) Hosuru village in Hanur taluk, he became the 17th pontiff of Salur Mutt on January 29, 1995.</p><p>Since entering the mutt at the age of 12, Swami worked tirelessly for the society. During his tenure as seer, he ensured daily dasoha (community feeding) service at the mutt, contributed to the development of Sri Mahadeshwara Temple, and uplifted the lives of the priests. Besides, under Sri Salur Swami Trust, he established a high school and a free hostel at Punnachi village for the upliftment of tribals, Dalits, and backward communities.</p><p>In 1999, he established a high school at Kempanapalya, in Kollegal taluk, and an old-age home on 10 acres of land on the outskirts of Hanur town to provide shelter to hundreds of destitute elderly people. He opened Sanskrit schools for the benefit of rural children. During festivals and fairs, he facilitated mass feeding of thousands of devotees.</p><p>Since he was suffering from ill health, over the past four years, he had anointed his disciple Shantha Mallikarjuna Swami as the junior pontiff of the mutt. The last rites were performed within the mutt premises in the presence of seers of other mutts.</p>
<p>Mysuru: Pontiff of Salur Bruhan Mutt Pattada Guru Swami (69), Male Mahadeshwara Betta (MM Hills), Hanur taluk, died on Tuesday morning.</p><p>The 17th pontiff of the Mutt, in the popular religious pilgrimage centre of MM Hills, was unwell over the past one week. He was suffering from age-related ailments for the past four years.</p><p>Born on August 2, 1956, as the eldest son of Rudrappa and Putta Madamma couple of GK (Gangadharana Katte) Hosuru village in Hanur taluk, he became the 17th pontiff of Salur Mutt on January 29, 1995.</p><p>Since entering the mutt at the age of 12, Swami worked tirelessly for the society. During his tenure as seer, he ensured daily dasoha (community feeding) service at the mutt, contributed to the development of Sri Mahadeshwara Temple, and uplifted the lives of the priests. Besides, under Sri Salur Swami Trust, he established a high school and a free hostel at Punnachi village for the upliftment of tribals, Dalits, and backward communities.</p><p>In 1999, he established a high school at Kempanapalya, in Kollegal taluk, and an old-age home on 10 acres of land on the outskirts of Hanur town to provide shelter to hundreds of destitute elderly people. He opened Sanskrit schools for the benefit of rural children. During festivals and fairs, he facilitated mass feeding of thousands of devotees.</p><p>Since he was suffering from ill health, over the past four years, he had anointed his disciple Shantha Mallikarjuna Swami as the junior pontiff of the mutt. The last rites were performed within the mutt premises in the presence of seers of other mutts.</p>