Shiroor Swamiji Lakshmivara Thirtha
Shri Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Matha, one of the eight Mathas of Udupi, breathed his last today morning. He was 55. Swamiji was suffering from breathing problems that arose due to reported food poisoning. He was admitted to the ICU at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal near Udupi on Wednesday. The doctors said that he suffered from bleeding in the stomach and was put on a ventilator. He was expected to recover in a few days. However his condition worsened in the night and breathed his last in the wee hours of Thursday, July 19, 2018.
The sudden demise of their beloved Swamiji has left his followers and devotees of the Matha shocked. Many dignitaries including the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Shri. Veerendra Heggade, Former PM HD Deve Gowda, BJP State President and Former CM Yeddyurappa have offered their condolences on the demise of Shiroor Matha Swamiji. His mortal remains will be taken to the Matha premises in Shiroor town.
Shri Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji was born in 1963. He took sanyas in 1971 at the age of 8 at the Shiroor Matha. He was the 30th chief of the Shiroor Matha in the Guru Parampara of the Matha.
Apart from his Dharmic duties of the Shiroor Matha, Swamiji was active in social service and environment protection. He was a ace drummer and a connoisseur of various art forms. His love for musical instruments was well known. He had laid the foundation stone of world renowned percussionist Shivamani’s music school in Udupi last month. Swamiji was also regularly involved in planting of trees and maintaining the greenery in and around Udupi.
Shirur Mutt Shirur Mutt in Udupi is located to the east of Sri Krishna Mutt and in front of the Kanaka”s shrine. The main branch of this Mutt is in the village Shirur which is about 78 Kms from Udupi. The idol of Vithala with Sri Devi and Bhudevi gifted by the Acharya to the first pontiff Sri Varmana Tirtha of this Mutt is worshipped here. To distinguish this Vithala from the other idols of Vithala, the name Varma Vithala is given to this idol. Beginning with Shri Vamana Thirtha, till Sri Lakshmivara Tirtha, the Shiroor Matha has seen 30 pontiffs in its Guru Parampara. |
