Social Services
Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition
Sri Siddaganga Math — The 1966 Drought
In the year 1966, the country was seriously suffering from a shortage of food grains due to drought. Poor people came to the Math in hope that they would get a square meal for survival. Sree Swamiji, realizing the plight of the poor, was determined to feed them at any cost — he would starve himself, but ensure none went without a meal. Let the entire stock of food grains be spent to feed all those who came with hope, expectation, and in search of food.
At this juncture, Sree Swamiji himself stood in the kitchen, preparing food with the assistance of his followers. He felt immense happiness when everyone left with a satisfied meal. Recognizing this, the Karnataka Government enhanced the food grains quota to the Math — a virtually magical situation then, and even now.
It was Sree Swamiji's labour of love, and in the religious parlance, it is what is called "Work is Worship" that made all this difference.
Om Sri Gurubasavalingaya Namah
You are the silver mountain that shines in the moonlight,
You are the divine lamp that glows within a crystal vessel.
There is wonder within You, and wonder all around You.
You cannot be grasped by the hand when one tries to touch You,
nor can the mind comprehend You however deeply it contemplates.
O revered Shivaguru Sri Shivakumara Gurudeva,
we surrender and offer our humble salutations at Your holy feet.
The Origin of Grameena Basava Jayanti
It is impossible to describe in mere words the magnitude of the fruits of the penance and spiritual power of Karnataka Ratna, Trividh Dasohi, Paramapujya Dr. Sri Sri Shivakumara Mahaswamiji. As a result of His immense spiritual power and penance, numerous socially oriented service activities were initiated at the Sri Matha. The Sri Siddaganga Matha became a great laboratory for such noble service activities. Among these many initiatives, Grameena Basava Jayanti is one of the most significant.
Recognising that the thoughts and teachings of Basavanna and the Sharanas provide meaningful solutions to many of the problems faced by contemporary society, Abhinava Basavanna, Paramapujya Dr. Sri Sri Shivakumara Mahaswamiji, initiated a great service from Sri Matha to take the thoughts and ideals of the Sharanas to the hearts and minds of the people.
From early morning until evening, devotees and visitors were blessed through Darshana, Sparshana, Ashirvachana and Dasoha. Throughout the night, the life and teachings of Basavanna were presented through a stage drama to the people. This became one of the important and distinctive service activities of Sri Matha. Paramapujya Sri Shivakumara Mahaswamiji had immense affection for farmers and the people living in rural areas, and His greatest desire was to make the lives of rural people prosperous and meaningful through Kayaka, Dasoha and dedication. With this vision, Sri Matha initiated the Rural Basava Jayanti programme in 1964.
Under the banner of the Sri Siddalingeshwara Nataka Mandali, the programme expanded its reach from 1979. The historical devotional drama “Sri Jagajyoti Basaveshwara” had its first performance at Byaladakere (Byalakere) village in Magadi Taluk. In the years that followed, it was successfully staged not only in Karnataka but also in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In 2014, it completed 1,000 performances and entered its Golden Jubilee celebrations — perhaps unmatched by any other drama in the history of theatre in this region.
The Artists Behind the Legacy
The unique feature of this drama is that the students, employees and teachers of Sri Matha themselves serve as the artists, with male artists performing the female roles as well. One of the most challenging tasks has been setting the Vachanas of the Sharanas to music — a responsibility carried by the late Sri Ko. Na. Venkatarama Bhagavathar, whose creativity and dedication continued even at the age of 85. Many artists who served in this drama troupe have gone on to establish themselves as actors in the film and television industries.
The troupe has also been honoured by distinguished personalities such as Prof. H. V. Veerabhadrayya and Prof. Ko. Ram. Basavaraju, president of the Sixth Kannada Sahitya Sammelana of Tumakuru Taluk, among many others. With its own complete stage setting, costumes, make-up artists, music scholars, sound and lighting design, the troupe stands today as a self-contained and professionally organised theatrical team.
At present, the drama has successfully completed 1,115 performances and continues its journey under the guidance and leadership of the present President, Paramapujya Sri Sri Siddalinga Mahaswamiji.
To be continued…
