Kalaburagi: Sharanbasavappa Appaji (in pic), the 8th Peethadhipathi of Sharanbasaveshwara Samsthana, passed away on Thursday evening in Kalaburagi city following a brief illness. Appaji, who was just months away from his 91st birthday, was a revered philosopher and educationalist known for transforming Kalaburagi region into a hub of education and learning. Thousands of devotees flocked to the sprawling Sharanbasaveshwara temple premises to pay their final respects. He was laid to rest with state honours on Friday evening within the temple premises, opposite the sanctum sanctorum and to the right of the mausoleum of his father, Pujya Doddappa Appaji, the 7th Peethadhipathi.Prominent leaders, including deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, rural development minister Priyank Kharge, Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil, deputy commissioner B Fouzia Tarannum, and commissioner of police Dr Shranappa SD, attended the final rites at Dasoha Mahamane.Emotional scenes unfolded at Dasoha Mahamane, where Appaji’s wife, Dakshayini Avvaji, his child and 9th Peethadhipathi Chiranjeevi Dodappa Appaji, his daughters, and other relatives mourned his passing. Appaji had previously handed over the reins of the samsthana to Chiranjeevi Dodappa Appaji during a coronation ceremony held in the presence of senior swamijis and dignitaries a few years ago.In the early morning hours, devotees, especially women, gathered in large numbers on the temple premises for darshan of Appaji’s mortal remains. After the completion of religious rituals, his body was placed in a flower-decorated enclosure at the Shivanubhava Mantapa, adjacent to the main entrance of the Dasoha Palace, allowing the public to offer their last respects. Police implemented extensive security measures to facilitate an orderly and hassle-free darshan experience. All rituals were held according to the Veerashaiva Lingayat customs.
