Mysuru: Marking Basava Jayanti, the renovated Mutt of Sri Urilinga Peddishwara Samsthana was inaugurated at Gandhinagar here recently.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Nidumamidhi Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji said that the State has 1,250 Veerashaiva and Lingayat Mutts and over the last 850 years not a single dalit had taken over as Seer of any Mutt which defies the notion of castelessness promoted by Basavanna.

He announced that accepting the challenge of Basavanna,  a dalit Swamiji would be appointment as Pontiff of Nidumamidi Mutt in future. He regretted that political leaders were encashing on casteism to garner support and votes.

Sri Shivayogishwara Seva awards were presented to retired employees Ningappa, Mahadevamma, Lakshmamma, Nanjappa, Susheelamma, Shivanna Matakere, Pillappa, Hanumathu, Nanjaiah, Biligirirangappa, Ningappa Naykal, Mallappa Mulikere, Thippanna Biranur, Siddappa Paramanna Naykal, Thippaiah Dyavanur, Rachaiah Dadadahalli, Gowramma, Shivanna, Lakshmamma, Devarajappa, Rangaswamy, Mahadevamma and Ankappa.

Buddhisht Monk Sri Bante Bodidatta Thera, Urilinga Peddishwara Mutt Seer Sri Gnanaprakasha Swamiji, Seers of several Mutts, journalist Amshi Prasanna Kumar and others were present.