Vijayapura: Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji of Jnana Yogashrama in Vijayapura, who was chosen for the prestigious Padma Shri Award, has decided to “respectfully refuse it.”

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Seer, while expressing his gratitude for selecting him for the award has said he is a spiritual being and does not need an award. “This honour should be conferred on people who have great accomplishments to their credit in various fields. Hence, I am returning this award with respect. Don’t think otherwise,” says the letter signed by the Seer.

In reply to a question whether his followers would want him to be honoured, he said, “But I am not interested. I have not accepted any awards in the past. Dharwad University (Karnatak University) had given me Honorary Doctorate some years back. I respectfully returned it.”

It is said that the Swamiji was not satisfied with the letter his associates drafted to Prime   Minister Modi and hence he himself wrote the letter with his own hand thanking the Prime Minister and the Union Government for choosing him for the honour and citing the reasons for his rejection.

The Swamiji is camping in Gulbarga University campus where he has been conducting spiritual classes. Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji also visits Mysuru to conduct discourses.