Sharanu Sharanarthi VSNA Bandhugale,
With a heavy heart, VSNA-NC would offer our humble and final salutations to the departing soul of Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddhaganga Muth who attained Shivaikya on the full moon day Shuddha Purnima on Shiva’s own day of the week – Monday Jan 21, 2019. He was 111 years old or should we say 111 years young, considering his work until his final days. He gave clear instructions before he left to wait till children had their lunch before giving them the news of his demise. He did not want anything to be stopped or canceled because of his exit. Aren’t we lucky to have lived during his time? To have had his darshan?
Below are some of the phrases that are constantly running in the media. We really wish English stood up to this grandeur of spiritual strength in its expressive ability, but today, we realize that India and Indian languages have the power of such expressions because of the long and strong lineages of sages like that of Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddhaganga. Read on with our mediocre translation
1. ಸಿದ್ಧಗಂಗೆಯ ಸಿದ್ಧಪುರುಷ – Siddhagangeya Siddha purusha – To the one that has reached the epitome of victory of Shiva yoga Sadhana!
2. ೨೦ನೆಯ ಶತಮಾನದ ಬಸವೇಶ್ವರ – 20neya Shatamaanada basaveshwara – 20th century Basavanna
3. ಶರಣ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಕಮಲ – Sharana Samsktitiya brahma kamala – To the divine Lotus of the lineage of Sharanas
4. ಲೋಕ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣದಲ್ಲೇ ಆತ್ಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಕಂಡ ಕಾರುಣ್ಯ ಮೂರ್ತಿ – loka kalyanadalle Atma kalyana kanda karunya murty – To the one who saw his wellness in everyone’s wellness
5. ಕಾಯಕತತ್ವದ ದಿವ್ಯ ಚೇತನ – kayaka tatvada divya chetana – To the divine soul who upheld the philosophy of work is worship !
6. ಜಂಗಮಶೀಲದ ತತ್ವಜ್ಞಾನಿ – jangama sheelada tatvajnani – To the wise sage who upheld the tradition of jangamas, the living essence of divinity
7. ನಡೆನುಡಿಯ ಕಲ್ಪವೃಕ್ಷ – nadenudiya kalpavriksha – To the epitome of divine kalpavriksha tree that grants any wish who lived and walked as a giver;
8. ಅನ್ನದಾನಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾದಾನಿ ಜ್ಞಾನದಾನಿ ಮಹಾನಿಧಿ – annadani, vidyadaani, jnanadaani mahanidhi – To the one who gave food, education, and spiritual knowledge to all that sought from him
9. ಕರುಣ ಹೃದಯಿ ಧ್ಯೇಯ ತಪಸ್ವಿ ದಿವ್ಯಮಾನವ – karunahrudayi, dhyeya tapasvi, divya maanava – to the kindhearted, perseverant hardworking, and noble soul
10. ದಾಸೋಹ ಸಿರಿ ದಿವ್ಯಚೇತನ – daasoha siri divya chetana – To the crown jewel of dasoha, the divine soul of generosity
11. ದೀನ ದಲಿತರ ದೀಪ – deena dalitara deepa – To the solace and leading light of the poor and destitutes
12. ಶಿವಕಾರುಣ್ಯದ ಕಲಶ – shiva kaarunyada kalasha – To the crowning glory of Shiva’s grace
13. ಜ್ಞಾನ ಯೋಗಿ ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗಿ – jnana yogi, karma yogi – To the one who reached the heights of spiritual wisdom and servitude
14. ತಪೋಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮಹಾತಪಸ್ವಿ – tapomurthy, mahatapasvi – To the austere sage, the great tapasvi
15. ತ್ರಿವಿಧದಾಸೋಹಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಜಂಗಮ – trividha dasohi, Shreshta jangama – To the one who conducted dasoha three times a day and to the one who lived as a walking divine grace
16. ವಿಶ್ವಚೇತನ ವಿಶ್ವರತ್ನ – Vishwa Chetana, Vishvaratna – To the divine spirit and the light of the entire universe
17. ಸ್ಥಿತಪ್ರಜ್ಞ ಮಹಾ ಚೇತನ – Sthitaprajna, maha chetana – To the Muni, the silent and peaceful sage, who was a universal spirit even lived!
2. ೨೦ನೆಯ ಶತಮಾನದ ಬಸವೇಶ್ವರ – 20neya Shatamaanada basaveshwara – 20th century Basavanna
3. ಶರಣ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಕಮಲ – Sharana Samsktitiya brahma kamala – To the divine Lotus of the lineage of Sharanas
4. ಲೋಕ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣದಲ್ಲೇ ಆತ್ಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಕಂಡ ಕಾರುಣ್ಯ ಮೂರ್ತಿ – loka kalyanadalle Atma kalyana kanda karunya murty – To the one who saw his wellness in everyone’s wellness
5. ಕಾಯಕತತ್ವದ ದಿವ್ಯ ಚೇತನ – kayaka tatvada divya chetana – To the divine soul who upheld the philosophy of work is worship !
6. ಜಂಗಮಶೀಲದ ತತ್ವಜ್ಞಾನಿ – jangama sheelada tatvajnani – To the wise sage who upheld the tradition of jangamas, the living essence of divinity
7. ನಡೆನುಡಿಯ ಕಲ್ಪವೃಕ್ಷ – nadenudiya kalpavriksha – To the epitome of divine kalpavriksha tree that grants any wish who lived and walked as a giver;
8. ಅನ್ನದಾನಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾದಾನಿ ಜ್ಞಾನದಾನಿ ಮಹಾನಿಧಿ – annadani, vidyadaani, jnanadaani mahanidhi – To the one who gave food, education, and spiritual knowledge to all that sought from him
9. ಕರುಣ ಹೃದಯಿ ಧ್ಯೇಯ ತಪಸ್ವಿ ದಿವ್ಯಮಾನವ – karunahrudayi, dhyeya tapasvi, divya maanava – to the kindhearted, perseverant hardworking, and noble soul
10. ದಾಸೋಹ ಸಿರಿ ದಿವ್ಯಚೇತನ – daasoha siri divya chetana – To the crown jewel of dasoha, the divine soul of generosity
11. ದೀನ ದಲಿತರ ದೀಪ – deena dalitara deepa – To the solace and leading light of the poor and destitutes
12. ಶಿವಕಾರುಣ್ಯದ ಕಲಶ – shiva kaarunyada kalasha – To the crowning glory of Shiva’s grace
13. ಜ್ಞಾನ ಯೋಗಿ ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗಿ – jnana yogi, karma yogi – To the one who reached the heights of spiritual wisdom and servitude
14. ತಪೋಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮಹಾತಪಸ್ವಿ – tapomurthy, mahatapasvi – To the austere sage, the great tapasvi
15. ತ್ರಿವಿಧದಾಸೋಹಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಜಂಗಮ – trividha dasohi, Shreshta jangama – To the one who conducted dasoha three times a day and to the one who lived as a walking divine grace
16. ವಿಶ್ವಚೇತನ ವಿಶ್ವರತ್ನ – Vishwa Chetana, Vishvaratna – To the divine spirit and the light of the entire universe
17. ಸ್ಥಿತಪ್ರಜ್ಞ ಮಹಾ ಚೇತನ – Sthitaprajna, maha chetana – To the Muni, the silent and peaceful sage, who was a universal spirit even lived!
Sharanu Sharanarathi Maha Janagama Nidhi, Amara Chetana Shivakumar Swamiji of SiddhaGanga Muth! His legacy is immortal and imperishable !