Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah will lay the foundation stone for the installation of a statue of Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji in front of JSS Mahavidyapeetha near Gun House Circle here at 10.15 am on Aug.29 to commemorate the 102nd Jayanti Mahotsava of the Swamiji.

Disclosing this at a press meet at Rajendra Bhavan in JSS Hospital premises here yesterday, JSS Mahavidyapeetha Executive Secretary Dr. C.G. Betsurmath said that marking the occasion a procession will be taken out at 8.30am from JSS Mahavidyapeetha to Suttur Mutt at the foot of Chamundi Hill which will be accompanied by folk troupes.

An awareness camp on donation of blood, eye and body will also be held at the Mutt premises followed by bhajans.

The stage programme at 10.30am will be graced by Sri Siddalinga Swamiji, Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji and Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, he said and added that District In-charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa would release a special souvenir ‘Prasada’ while Minister Tanveer Sait would release JSS Vartha Pathra. A centenary pictorial volume will also be released on the occasion. In all, 134 retired employees of JSS Mahavidyapeetha would be felicitated and scholarships distributed to students.

Dr. Betsurmath further said that the Panchaloha statue of Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji will be 11 feet tall sculpted at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

Plea to change location of statue

Meanwhile, Aramane Ulisi Horata Samithi has sought the change of location of the proposed statue of the Swamiji as the Samithi had appealed Chief Minister and the Palace Board to erect a statue of Srikanta  Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar at the same location near Gun House Circle here. Addressing a press meet at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday, Samithi Convenor Nandish G. Urs said that the members would stage a symbolic protest at Gun House Circle on Aug.29 to urge the Government to impress upon JSS authorities to shift the spot.